This week we’re joined by Justine Shanahan — a CSI with over 25 years’ experience and a part-time lecturer at the University of Lincoln.

Justine takes us back to the beginning: a teenager spending her pocket money on true crime books (long before CSI was cool), arranging her own attachments, and attending a post-mortem at just 17.

And then comes the moment every new CSI fears most: her first night on call — and she’s deployed to a double murder!

In this episode, Justine shares:

- What it was really like starting as a CSI in the early 2000s

- Major crime investigations early in her career in a “quiet” county

- The long-term impact the job can have on mental health

- Why she loves teaching and what she thinks CSI will look like in the future

- The one case that still haunts her — the unsolved murder of Alan Wood (2009)

As always, we take you back under the barrier tape — real stories, realities, and the parts of the job TV never shows.

🎟️ Don't forget you can come to see us at CrimeCon UK! Birmingham (25 April 2026) & London (3–4 Oct 2026). Use code INSIDERS for 10% off your ticket at crimecon.co.uk.

#TrueCrimePodcast #TheCrimeSceneInsiders #CSI #Forensics #UKTrueCrime #BehindTheScenes #PodcastUK

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In this episode of The Crime Scene Insiders, we focus on the murder of Judith Richardson, a 77-year-old woman living independently in Hexham, Northumberland, whose life was taken in August 2011.

Judith was known in her community for her kindness, her love of music, and her regular attendance at organ recitals at Hexham Abbey. She lived a quiet life, rooted in routine and connection.

Her murder came to light after the discovery of a discarded handbag — a seemingly ordinary item that led police to Judith’s home. Once she was found, the handbag became central to the investigation, triggering CCTV enquiries and ultimately helping to identify the suspect: Graeme Jarman. Known for his extremely violent past, his identification sparked a nationwide manhunt, turning the investigation into a race against time to apprehend him and prevent any further crimes.

We explore how forensic evidence, CCTV, and careful investigative work came together — including Ange’s role as crime scene photographer at the post-mortem — while keeping Judith at the heart of the story.

#TheCrimeSceneInsiders #TrueCrime #UKTrueCrime #ForensicScience #CSI #VictimFocused

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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