Episode
Scottish Elections, Police Body Cameras, Lockerbie and the £6 Billion Drugs Crisis
- Podcast
- Crime Time Inc
- Published
- Mar 29, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2473
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://shows.acast.com/crime-time-inc/episodes/29-03-2026
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Summary
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 brings his characteristic dry wit to the subject, suggesting that any would-be fraudsters targeting him would leave considerably out of pocket. The political agenda is front and centre this week. Simon highlights new UK legislation cracking down on political donations — including a ban on crypto donations and a £100,000 cap on overseas contributions — ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections on 6 May. Tom draws on his years as Deputy Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders to give a frank insider account of what it takes to police a major election: the pre-planning, the management of rival factions, security at counting centres, the Representation of the People Act, and why rising political temperatures mean this May's vote will be a particularly demanding operation. Both hosts share their frustration at the state of modern political debate, noting that First Minister's Questions has descended into a catalogue of accusations rather than a forum for policy. Glasgow has finally joined the rest of the UK in rolling out police body-worn cameras, and Tom is blunt about why it took so long: Scotland's police capital budget is "lamentably inadequate", representing cl…