In this episode of The Crime Scene Insiders, it’s just the two of us — and we’re sharing a case that hits much closer to home.

Angela recounts her experience of being burgled while asleep in her own home — and what followed was a forensic and investigative process that raised serious questions about triage decisions, evidence recovery, and the wider criminal justice system.

From being told no CSI would attend, to carrying out our own scene examination and uncovering footwear marks that later linked multiple burglaries, this episode explores what happens when assumptions are made too early — and when vital evidence is dismissed.

We discuss the realities of being a victim of crime after years working as investigators, the risks of phone-based crime triage, and why context, intelligence, and evidence-led decisions matter far more than tick-box processes.

As always, we go back under the barrier tape to talk honestly about where systems work, where they don’t, and why evidence should always be allowed to speak for itself.

In this episode of The Crime Scene Insiders, we’re joined by Charlotte Thorpe, a former Crime Scene Investigator, Crime Scene Manager, and Senior CSI, who spent over 20 years with Kent Police.

Charlie has worked on thousands of crime scenes, from volume crime through to serious and complex investigations, and has led teams through some of the most challenging moments of their careers. She shares what it’s really like learning the role from the ground up, being thrown in at the deep end, and building confidence through experience — not textbooks.

We discuss early career mistakes, major scenes, the realities of forensic work behind the scenes, and how the job impacts you over time. Charlie also reflects on leadership, mentoring new CSIs, and the importance of looking after yourself and your team — something she continues to do today in her current role as a trainer.

An honest, insightful episode for anyone working in forensics, considering the career, or wanting to understand what happens underneath the barrier tape.

Merry Christmas! In this Boxing Day episode, we lift the festive tape and share what it’s really like to work as a CSI over Christmas and New Year.

From frozen crime scenes to festive chaos, hear real stories from our days in the field — the good, the bad, and the downright ridiculous:

• Christmas Day shifts you can’t dodge

• The forbidden “Q word” and its consequences

• Burglaries, assaults and alcohol-fuelled incidents

• Technical winter nightmares: batteries dying, blood in snow, and footwear marks

• Stuck vans, burnt clutches, and blizzards

• The emotional impact of festive crimes

• Camaraderie, office decorations, microwave party food & keeping spirits high

Funny, honest and eye-opening — a look at the human side of forensic work when everyone else is celebrating.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr Gary Currie — the CSI, Crime Scene Manager, national trainer, and senior lecturer who has shaped countless careers… including ours.

Gary reflects on more than 30 years under the barrier tape: from the early SOCO days to modern CSI work, the culture shifts, the chaos, the humour that keeps you going, and the moments that stay with you long after leaving the job.

We talk openly about:

🧪 What CSI work used to look like vs now

🚔 Stories only a real SOCO could tell

🧠 Coping mechanisms, hindsight & mental health

🎓 Teaching and influencing the next generation

🎶 And how Gary created our podcast theme tune

It’s honest, funny, and deeply personal — a conversation about the realities of a career that changed lives!

Former Detective Sergeant Joanne Mackel joins us for a deeply personal conversation about her life, her policing career, and the decades-long search for answers surrounding her mum’s disappearance.

Joanne’s mother, Ann Law, went missing from Newcastle in 1973. Ann’s body has never been found, and it is long believed that she was murdered and buried by her husband — Joanne’s father, Gilbert Law. Growing up in the shadow of a flawed investigation, Joanne eventually pursued a career in policing — determined to be the officer she wished had been there for her family.

In this episode, Joanne shares her experiences as a child during her mum’s disappearance, her journey through serious crime policing as a Detective Sergeant, and the resilience, humour, and honesty she’s carried throughout her life. She also talks about the creation of Dig Up Your Mam, the six-part podcast hosted by award-winning journalist Julie Bindel, which documents her family’s story and her ongoing fight for the truth.

This is an emotional, insightful, and at times surprisingly funny conversation — a testament to Joanne’s strength and determination to keep her mum’s memory alive.

Content warning: This episode discusses domestic abuse, murder, and long-term trauma. Please listen with care.

To listen to the Dig Up Your Mam Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1SKF5zZTs1WM4hIARMhuIW

#TheCrimeSceneInsiders #TrueCrime #AnnLaw #JoanneMackel

In this episode of The Crime Scene Insiders, we sit down with expert investigator and diving specialist Peter Faulding, Founder of Specialist Group International (SGI). Peter shares his remarkable journey — from early careers in emergency response to becoming a leading voice in underwater search and recovery operations.

We dive into the technology behind Peter’s work, the hidden challenges of interpreting sonar, and some of his most notable cases.

We then turn to the high-profile Nicola Bulley case — discussing the sonar footage released by SGI, the collaboration and challenges between private search teams and police, and the College of Policing review into how the investigation was handled. Peter speaks candidly about his role, the public scrutiny, and what accountability means in forensic search and major investigations.

This week’s episode of The Crime Scene Insiders is a deeply personal one.

Ange opens up about an assault she and a friend experienced three years ago, and the long, exhausting journey through the criminal justice system that followed. As someone who’s spent years working within the sector, Ange offers a unique perspective on how victims can be let down by a system that’s supposed to protect them.

In this longer-than-usual episode, we discuss the flaws in the investigation, the impact of the process, and why it’s so important for victims’ voices to be heard.

It’s an important conversation about crime, justice, and the real-world consequences when the system fails.

In this episode of The Crime Scene Insiders, we’re joined by James Harris — former City of London Police detective, specialist in major crime investigations, and one of the UK’s most highly trained investigative interview specialists.

James shares insights from his policing career, including his approach to interviewing suspects and witnesses, and the realities behind major crime investigations. He also talks about his transition into academia, training the next generation of criminal investigators, and what it really takes to succeed in policing today.

If you’re fascinated by investigative interviewing, major crime cases, and the behind-the-scenes world of policing, this is an episode not to miss.