When Enron collapsed, the fallout reached far beyond the energy giant. What happened to the people at its accounting firm, Arthur Andersen?

Former Arthur Andersen managing partner Larry Katzen joins Simon McLean on Crime Time Inc to share his account of the firm’s collapse—and the human cost for employees and families around the world.

After 35 years with Andersen, Larry was approaching retirement when his career unravelled. He recalls clients walking away, colleagues facing uncertain futures, and his growing conviction that the firm had become Enron’s scapegoat.

Simon questions Larry about docume...

Russell Brand has been convicted of rape and three counts of sexual assault following a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court. But beyond the headlines, the case raises troubling questions about celebrity, institutional responsibility and the challenges of investigating sexual offences years after they occurred.

In this episode of Crime Time Inc., former senior Scottish detectives Simon McLean and Tom Wood examine the case from a policing and investigative perspective.

How did Metropolitan Police detectives build a successful prosecution involving allegations dating back many years? What role did independent witness accounts, historical records and circumstantial...

A child disappears. A painstaking investigation stretches across years and multiple police forces. Then, on a quiet road in the Scottish Borders, a police officer makes a discovery that leaves a live audience gasping.

In this special edition of Crime Time Inc., recorded before an audience at Milngavie Library in Scotland, former senior detectives Tom Wood and Simon McLean take us behind the scenes of some of Britain's most challenging criminal investigations.

Tom, a former Deputy Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police, gives a remarkable firsthand account of the hunt for serial child killer...

What does it really take to solve a murder? And after decades of fighting the war on drugs, is it time for a completely different approach?

Crime Time Inc goes live!

Recorded in front of an audience at Giffnock Library, Glasgow, on 22 October 2026, former Scottish detectives Tom Wood and Simon McLean share extraordinary stories from their policing careers, discuss notorious criminal investigations and challenge each other's views on some of the biggest issues facing the criminal justice system.

The World's End Murders

Tom opens with a moving account of the 1977 World's...

In the concluding episode of Crime Time Inc’s three-part examination of the disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh, former Metropolitan Police detective Mike Barley reflects on an investigation that has remained with him for forty years.

Mike considers why the appointment with “Mr Kipper” was different from every other entry in Suzy’s diary, the limitations facing detectives before modern computer and forensic systems, and the emotional burden of living with an unresolved case.

He also answers one of the most difficult questions an investigator can face: knowing what he knows now, what does he believe the poli...

In Part 2, Tom Wood continues his conversation with former Metropolitan Police detective Mike Barley about the disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh.

Mike explains how the investigation into the abduction and murder of Shirley Banks brought convicted killer John Cannan to the attention of the Lamplugh inquiry. A bungled robbery, a discarded vehicle tax disc and Shirley’s repainted Mini—fitted with a mysterious false registration plate—created a trail investigators could not ignore.

Mike also recounts his 1990 prison interview with Cannan. When challenged about his claim that a “Bristol businessman” was responsible for the deaths of Suzy Lampl...

On 28 July 1986, 25-year-old estate agent Suzy Lamplugh left her Fulham office for an appointment with a prospective client recorded in her diary as “Mr Kipper”. She never returned.

That evening, Metropolitan Police detective Mike Barley was called at home. The duty detective inspector had heard the circumstances and told him: “I don’t like the sound of it. I think you’d better come in.”

In Part 1 of this three-part Crime Time Inc. special, Mike gives Tom Wood a first-hand account of the opening stages of one of Britain’s most enduring missing-person investigations.

Mike recalls...

Nearly twenty years ago, one of Scotland’s most respected legal figures delivered a devastating verdict on the war on drugs: prohibition was not working.

In this episode, former detectives Simon McLean and Tom Wood revisit the views of Lord John McCluskey and ask whether decades of criminalisation have reduced drug use — or helped create the hugely profitable black market exploited by organised crime.

Simon argues for a radically different approach built around decriminalisation, regulation and rehabilitation. Tom challenges the practicalities: who would supply regulated drugs, could easier access increase consumption, and does Scotland have anyt...

Is Glasgow city centre becoming somewhere people increasingly choose to avoid?

A recent BBC Disclosure programme has put the condition of Glasgow city centre firmly back in the spotlight. In this episode, former detectives Tom Wood and Simon McLean examine what is happening on the streets — and whether the problems run much deeper than policing.

Tom and Simon discuss the disappearance of the highly visible city-centre policing they remember from their own careers, and the shift towards a more reactive system where officers increasingly arrive after something has happened rather than being there to prevent it...

Seven people lost their lives in the early hours of Saturday 22 August 2026 when a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way along the A66 at South Bank, near Middlesbrough, collided head-on with a marked Cleveland Police armed response vehicle.

Among those who died were Cleveland Police officers PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, along with the five occupants of the Passat.

In this episode, former detectives Tom Wood and Simon McLean examine what is currently known about the tragedy while recognising that the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision is still at an early...

Why can someone accused of a serious crime be released on bail — and why might the detectives investigating them sometimes be pleased when that happens?

Former Scottish detectives Tom Wood and Simon McLean take an inside look at bail and remand: what bail actually means, how the system has changed during their careers, and the factors courts consider when deciding whether an accused person should remain at liberty or be held in custody pending trial.

They discuss the days when bail could literally mean putting up money for someone's release, the continuing use of bail bo...

What does a 13-year prison sentence really mean — and what happens when changes to early-release rules collide with one of Britain’s most emotionally charged policing cases?

Former Scottish detectives Tom Wood and Simon McLean examine the case of PC Andrew Harper, the 28-year-old Thames Valley Police officer who was killed in 2019 after becoming caught in a strap attached to a vehicle fleeing the theft of a quad bike.

Three young men were originally charged with murder. All were ultimately acquitted of murder but convicted of, or admitted, manslaughter.

Tom...

Lockerbie: The Mas'ud Confession, the Evidence and the Trial Ahead

Former Scottish detectives Tom Wood and Simon McLean examine the case against Abu Agila Mas'ud — and what the US trial could reveal about Pan Am Flight 103.

More than three decades after the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, the investigation is once again heading into a courtroom.

In this episode, Tom and Simon look ahead to the US prosecution of Abu Agila Mas'ud and discuss one of the most significant recent developments in the case: a federal judge's decision allowing prosecutors to pu...

How can repeated failures across the criminal justice system allow a dangerous offender to remain a threat?

In this episode of Crime Time Inc. Weekly News, former detectives Tom Wood and Simon McLean examine the case of Simon Levy and the murders of Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo and Sheryl Wilkins.

Tom and Simon look beyond the crimes themselves to the series of decisions and system failures surrounding Levy's offending history. They discuss acknowledged errors involving the Metropolitan Police, British Transport Police and Crown Prosecution Service, and examine how information was handled as his offending...

Could facial recognition become the biggest breakthrough in catching criminals since DNA matching?

Live facial recognition is becoming an increasingly powerful tool for police — but as the technology expands, so does the debate over privacy, surveillance, regulation and the rights of innocent people caught on camera.

In this episode of Crime Time Inc., former Scottish detectives Tom Wood and Simon McLean examine the growing use of facial recognition technology, CCTV and digital evidence in modern policing.

Tom argues that facial recognition could become as important to criminal investigations as fingerprints, CCTV and DNA, wh...

Former detectives Tom Wood and Simon McLean examine the PC Alan Greer investigation, the death of Elizabeth Jane Ross in Athens and FIFA’s controversial proposed commercial deal.

Crime Time Inc. Weekly News returns with real investigative experience applied to major stories from the UK and beyond.

Tom and Simon begin with FIFA, discussing the influence of money in football, the proposed multi-billion-pound commercial arrangement, the Sepp Blatter era and the powers used by the FBI to pursue corruption and racketeering.

They then examine the allegations surrounding Police Scotland officer PC...

We close our series on Marina Habe by leaving her mother's West Hollywood home for the road where she was found — and where, in barely two years, three more young women were murdered or vanished. Reet Jurvetson, stabbed 157 times and nameless for 46 years until a bloodstain that should never have survived gave her back her name. Rose Tashman, taken from a stranded car. Robin Graham, last seen talking to a stranger on a freeway shoulder, never found. We apply the ABC method to the whole cluster — sorting two very different killers from one seductive coincidence of geog...

In Episode 4 of our Marina Habe series, we return to the strange detail at the centre of the case: the return of Marina’s red MG Midget to the driveway of her West Hollywood home in the early hours of December 30, 1968.

Marina’s mother, actress Eloise Hardt, was reportedly woken by the sound of a car with a bad muffler. From her window, she saw a man near Marina’s MG and a black sedan leaving the scene. But she did not see Marina. By morning, the car was still there. Inside were Marina’s date clothes, a small...

Who was Marina Habe before she became a murder victim?

In this special Crime Time Inc. episode, we step away from the crime scene and explore the extraordinary family history surrounding Marina Habe. Born into a world of Hollywood glamour, political influence and wartime intrigue, Marina's life was anything but ordinary.

Her father, Hans Habe, was a bestselling author, psychological warfare specialist and key figure in rebuilding the German press after World War II. Her mother, Eloise Hardt, moved in elite Hollywood circles and maintained close ties with legendary film director John Huston and his...

Ex murder squad detectives Tom and Simon discuss Alex’s detailed breakdown of the 1969 murder of 17-year-old Marina Habe and focus on unanswered investigative basics amid widespread online speculation. They debate whether Marina’s wealthy, well-connected background and the affluence of key figure John Hornburg could have influenced early police responses, drawing parallels to how status can affect law enforcement attention. Reviewing the known timeline—Hornburg, the Troubadour nightclub, the returned MG Midget, and a man seen by Marina’s mother entering a dark sedan—they argue the case suggests local knowledge and a personal motive, not a random abduction...

Marina Habe: Murder, Mystery and the Manson Connection? | True Crime Podcast

On December 30, 1968, seventeen-year-old Marina Habe vanished from the driveway of her West Hollywood home.

Just hours earlier, she had been enjoying a night out with friends at the legendary Troubadour nightclub. By New Year's Day, her body would be discovered in the Hollywood Hills, brutally murdered and hidden beside Mulholland Drive.

More than fifty years later, the murder of Marina Habe remains one of Los Angeles' most haunting unsolved cold cases.

In this episode, we examine the evidence, reconstruct Marina's...

Former undercover police officer and Crime Time Inc host Simon McLean joins fellow author and former Deputy Chief Constable Tom Wood for a fascinating discussion at the official launch of his new crime thriller, Kintyre, held at Hillhead Library in Glasgow on 24 May 2026.

Hosted by former Rangers and Scotland footballer Davie McKinnon, the conversation explores the real-life experiences that inspired the novel, including undercover policing, major crime investigations, cold cases, forensic breakthroughs, organised crime, human trafficking and the challenges of writing crime fiction grounded in reality.

Simon discusses how his years in policing influenced the...

This week on Crime Time Inc., former senior detectives Simon and Tom examine the growing pressures facing modern policing and criminal investigations.

The discussion begins with concerns over digital forensic backlogs in Scotland, where increasing demand for mobile phone analysis, cybercrime investigations, toxicology testing and digital evidence recovery is placing unprecedented strain on forensic services. The pair explore how delays can impact criminal prosecutions and why investment in specialist technology has become essential for modern law enforcement.

The conversation then turns to the tragic case of Tony Parsons, the former Royal Navy officer and cancer...

The conviction of former SNP Chief Executive Peter Murrell has sent shockwaves through Scottish politics and raised serious questions about financial oversight, leadership responsibility and public trust.

In this episode of Crime Time Inc., former detectives Tom Wood and Simon McLean examine the embezzlement case that dominated headlines across Scotland. Drawing on decades of investigative experience, they explore how breaches of trust develop, why embezzlement often goes undetected for years, and what warning signs organisations frequently miss.

Tom and Simon compare the SNP case with real investigations from their policing careers, including thefts involving trusted...

In this episode of Crime Time Inc., Simon and Tom take listeners inside the world of Scottish policing, crime writing, and real-life murder investigations. What begins as a discussion about their upcoming books quickly evolves into a fascinating exploration of cold cases, people trafficking, major investigations, and the detectives who shaped modern policing.

The Crime Time Inc. team returns with a special emergency episode to discuss one of the most talked-about criminal cases in the UK.

Former Deputy Chief Constable Tom Wood and retired Detective Simon McLean examine the murder of Southampton student Henry Novak, the subsequent conviction of Vikram Digwa, and the intense public reaction that followed the release of police body-worn video footage.

Drawing on decades of frontline policing experience, Tom and Simon explore:

In this wide-ranging episode of Crime Time Inc., Simon and Tom blend humour, nostalgia, and serious criminal justice discussion as they reflect on their careers in Scottish policing.

The conversation begins with memories of detective training at Ayr and Tulliallan Police College, including stories from Butlins nights, old police accommodation blocks, and legendary detective courses from decades past.

The hosts then move into a detailed discussion of the Andrew Malkinson miscarriage of justice case, exploring the dangers of flawed eyewitness identification, disclosure failures, parole complications for prisoners maintaining innocence, and the wider implications for the...

In this insightful episode of Crime Time Inc., Simon and Tom reunite to dive deep into a variety of pressing issues that not only affect Scotland but resonate globally. As they take a brief break from their usual focus on historical cases, they engage in an enlightening conversation, drawing from Tom's extensive experience as a former Deputy Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police.

The discussion kicks off with Simon sharing his recent interactions with police officers and the value of feedback in shaping their approach on Crime Time Inc. Drawing from these discussions, Tom elucidates...

In this episode, we delve into the intricate case of the Zodiac Killer, reflecting on the thorough investigation and narrative crafted by Alex, who's been pivotal in summarizing the key elements of this elusive case. Through Alex’s comprehensive overview, we pay homage to the victims and draw distinctions between verified killings attributed to the Zodiac and other alleged murders. Despite decades passing, the case remains alive with ongoing public interest, leading to a continuous influx of suspect names, showcasing the enduring enigma the Zodiac has become.

We explore the complexities that have accumulated over the la...

In the final episode of our Zodiac Killer series, we move beyond the best-known suspects and examine the bigger question at the heart of this case: why has the Zodiac investigation produced so many names, and yet no definitive answer?

This episode covers the remaining major suspects, including Jack Tarrance, Rick Marshall, Ted Kaczynski, David Carpenter, Bruce Davis, Paul Doerr, Kjell Qvale, and Giuseppe Bevilacqua. For each, we look at why they were considered, what evidence or theory linked them to the case, and why none of those theories has led to a confirmed identification.

...

In this episode of Crime Time Inc, hosts Tom Wood and Simon McLean join researcher Alex to continue their deep dive into the Zodiac killer case, turning their attention from the evidence itself to the deeply human story behind one of the most enduring suspects — a man whose abandoned son became convinced his estranged father was the infamous serial killer. Tom, drawing on decades of experience as a senior investigating officer on cases including the World's End murders and the Robert Black abductions, offers a compelling psychological perspective on why family members of terrible people sometimes come forward to li...

In this episode, we examine one of the most emotionally powerful and controversial theories ever attached to the Zodiac case: the claim that Earl Van Best Jr was the killer.

At the centre of the story is Gary Stewart, a man abandoned as a baby who spent decades searching for the truth about his biological father. What he found was not peace, but a theory that would become a bestselling book, a major documentary, and one of the most debated suspect narratives in true crime.

We trace the disturbing life of Earl Van Best Jr—fr...

In this episode of Crime Time Inc, hosts Tom Wood and Simon McLean take a detailed look at Gary Francis Post as a suspect in the Zodiac killer case, continuing their in-depth series on one of America's most enduring unsolved mysteries. Before diving into the main discussion, the pair share some entertaining memories of police life — the Glasgow dairies and Edinburgh bakeries that served as unofficial gathering spots for officers, the camaraderie with A&E nurses at the Western General Hospital on the night shift, and some memorably brutal lines from staff appraisals. It's a warm, unguarded exchange that ca...

In this episode, Simon and Tom examine one of the most controversial modern Zodiac Killer suspects: Gary Francis Poste.The story begins with a chilling moment—an elderly man, a simple question, and a violent response with a hammer. That moment would later fuel a nationwide media storm and reignite interest in a case that has remained unsolved for over 50 years.We break down the claims made by the Case Breakers, a team of former law enforcement and intelligence professionals who publicly named Poste as the Zodiac in 2021.Key areas explored in this episode:The hammer incident and the credibility of...

In this review episode, Simon and Tom take a measured look at Richard Gaikowski, one of the most frequently discussed suspects in the Zodiac case. After Alec’s suspect profile, they break down what is genuinely intriguing, what feels overstated, and why Gaikowski remains a suspect many people talk about—but one who is still far from proven.

The discussion focuses on several points that continue to keep Gaikowski in the conversation: his work as a newspaper editor in the Bay Area, his background as an army medic, his reported mental health issues, and the often-mentioned claim that...

In this episode, we examine one of the most controversial and debated Zodiac Killer suspects — Richard Gaikowski.A journalist with ties to San Francisco’s counterculture scene, Gaikowski has long fascinated researchers due to a series of striking coincidences, disputed claims, and lingering questions.We break down the full case for and against Gaikowski, separating documented facts from speculation.

In this episode, we cover:

This week on Crime Time Inc, Simon and Tom mark the last of their general-topic episodes for a few weeks — while they push on to finish their in-depth series on the Zodiac murders — with an episode packed full of Scottish crime, policing, politics, and culture.

Simon opens with a warning about "true friendship fraud", the growing phenomenon where criminals cultivate online relationships with vulnerable and elderly people in order to steal their money. With Scotland's older population increasingly targeted through Facebook, WhatsApp and other platforms, Simon and Tom explain the warning signs to look out for. Tom...

In this episode, former detectives Simon and Tom review the case against Lawrence Kane — one of the most persistent suspects in the Zodiac Killer investigation. We advise you listen to the previous episode. While Kane appears to “tick many boxes” on paper, this discussion goes deeper — separating compelling evidence from misleading coincidence.Key points explored include:Kane’s background: Navy experience, coding knowledge, brain injury, and a history of sexual and petty offencesHis proximity to key Zodiac crime locations, including San Francisco and VallejoThe significance of his convictions for prowling and voyeurism — and whether these behaviours align with the Zodiac’s possible pre...

n this episode, we examine one of the most persistent and controversial Zodiac Killer suspects: Lawrence Kane.Unlike lesser-known names, Kane is a suspect that serious investigators — including retired detective Harvey Hines — returned to repeatedly.We explore Kane’s background, including:His military training in electronics and codingA life-altering brain injury in 1962 and subsequent psychological declineA long criminal history that abruptly stopped just before the Zodiac killings beganWe then break down the most disturbing connections:Darlene Ferrin – Identified by her sisters as a man who frightened her prior to her murderVehicle change – Kane replaced his car days after the Blue Rock Sprin...

In this episode, Tom and Simon break down some of the most important crime and justice stories in the news. They begin with the shocking Nathan Bennett case, discussing how a nursery worker was able to offend against very young children, what this says about vetting and safeguarding, and why specialist police interview techniques are so important when children are involved.

They then turn to the deeply divisive debate over assisted dying in Scotland, examining the proposed law, the role of doctors, the safeguards being discussed, and the wider moral and legal questions around dignity, coercion, and...