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 Robert Black.
Beginning with the disappearance of Jennifer Cardy in Northern Ireland in 1981, he traces the investigations into the murders of Susan Maxwell, Caroline Hogg and Sarah Harper. He explains how detectives struggled to connect crimes committed hundreds of miles apart, and how innovative policing, new computer systems and the determination of senior investigator Hector Clark helped transform the investigation.
The story culminates in the extraordinary events of July 1990, when Black was stopped in the Scottish Borders. Tom's account of what police discovered inside his van produces one of the most powerful moments of the evening.
But the discussion goes far beyond Robert Black.
Simon and Tom explore the realities of investigating serious crime, from the daily work of detectives gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses to the enormous responsibility carried by a Senior Investigating Officer.
They also discuss their experiences of the World's End murders, the importance of keeping victims at the centre of true-crime storytelling, and the books they have written about their policing careers.
The conversation then turns to organised crime and Scotland's drug crisis, where Simon and Tom agree on many of the problems but offer different perspectives on the solutions.
Finally, questions from the audience bring fresh discussions about cold cases, forensic science, artificial intelligence, Bible John and the future of criminal investigations.
Episode chapters — provisional timings
About Crime Time Inc.
Hosted by former Scottish detectives Simon McLean and Tom Wood, Crime Time Inc. explores true crime, landmark investigations, policing and criminal justice through the experiences of people who have worked on the frontline.
Discover more episodes at https://crimetimeinc.com
Recording note: This episode was captured live at Milngavie Library on a single iPhone and enhanced in post-production.
Content note: Contains discussion of child abduction, murder and other serious crimes.
Books by Simon McLean & Tom Wood
Discover the books written by Crime Time Inc.'s hosts, including true crime, undercover policing, historical investigations and crime fiction.
View all their books and where to buy them: