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.

This week on The Crime Scene Insiders, we’re joined by Lindsy Slamon as she reflects on her remarkable 20+ year career across roles as a Crime Scene Investigator, manager, and coordinator. From gripping cases—including the high-profile Dale Cregan investigation—to the unforgettable moments that kept her on her toes, Lindsay shares stories that are equal parts fascinating and entertaining.

Now transitioning into policing education, she inspires the next generation with her wealth of experience, offering insights, humour, and hard-earned lessons from a career spent behind the tape.

This week on The Crime Scene Insiders we’re joined by Anthony Schembri - aka “The Commish.”

Anthony’s career is nothing short of extraordinary! From typing DA reports in Brooklyn at just 16, to leading homicide units, becoming a Police Commissioner in New York, overhauling Toronto’s jail system, and running Florida’s juvenile justice system. Along the way he’s also taught, trained and inspired the next generation. He's even the real-life inspiration behind the 90s TV series 'The Commish'.

In this episode, Anthony shares his experiences with humour, honesty, and a storyteller’s flair. We laughed so much recording this one that our cheeks actually hurt — and we think you’ll be laughing along too.

In this episode of Crime Scene Insiders, we open up about our own struggles with mental health and the impact of working as Crime Scene Investigators (CSI).

From shocking crime scenes to the moments that never leave you, we share the side of CSI work that doesn’t make it onto TV. We discuss the cases that turned our stomachs, the emotional weight of dealing with victims and their families, and the coping mechanisms that helped us survive life on the frontline.

We also talk honestly about stigma — why asking for help used to feel impossible, and how attitudes towards mental health in policing and forensics are finally starting to change.

👉 If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like behind the scenes of CSI work — or you’ve faced your own battles with mental health — this episode is for you.

Former CSI Rebecca Jones shares her personal journey with PTSD, while shedding light on the broader mental health impact of crime scene work.

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses traumatic topics including child and infant death, and includes personal accounts of PTSD. Listener discretion is advised.

In this episode of The Crime Scene Insiders, we speak with Rebecca Jones — former Crime Scene Investigator with 15 years’ frontline experience and now Deputy Head of the School of Life Sciences at Anglia Ruskin University.

Rebecca offers a rare and deeply honest insight into the emotional toll of crime scene work. She reflects on the impact of dealing with harrowing cases, the long-term effects of repeated exposure to trauma, and her own journey with post-traumatic stress disorder.

This is a powerful conversation about the human side of forensic work — the resilience, the challenges, and the importance of acknowledging mental health in professions that face trauma every day.

#TheCrimeSceneInsiders #CrimeSceneInsiders #Podcast #CSI #Forensics #MentalHealthMatters #PTSD #TraumaAwareness

In this episode of The Crime Scene Insiders, Ange and Dee speak with medicolegal death investigator Julie Wolf, who has handled over 3,000 cases in the U.S.

Julie shares the good, the grim, and the unexpected realities of her work. Join us to explore the differences between U.S. and U.K. investigations, what it’s really like to attend scenes, talk to families, and be the one to “speak for the dead.”

It’s candid, surprising, and packed with insight from the frontline of death investigation — with plenty of dark humour, compassion, and behind-the-scenes stories along the way.

#truecrimepodcast #DeathInvestigation #MedicolegalDeathInvestigator #TheCrimeSceneInsiders #ForensicScience #USvsUKCrime #RealCrimeStories #candidconversations #BehindTheCrime #ForensicsPodcast #unfilteredtruth #truecrimecommunity

Why are people so fascinated by death, but so afraid to talk about it? In this episode of The Crime Scene Insiders, Ange and Dee get candid about what it’s really like to deal with death as part of the job. From first experiences to the questions they’re always asked, they share the reality behind the scenes.

This episode also sets the stage for our next guest: U.S. death investigator Julie Wolf, joining us on August 8th to share her experience from across the Atlantic.

⚠️ Content warning: Includes discussion of death and real scenes involving deceased individuals.