# Q&A: Ann Widdecombe, the Flying Squad and should the IRGC be banned?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-crime-agents-7367970/q-a-ann-widdecombe-the-flying-squad-and-should-the-irgc-be-banned
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-crime-agents-7367970/q-a-ann-widdecombe-the-flying-squad-and-should-the-irgc-be-banned.md
Podcast: [The Crime Agents](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-crime-agents-7367970)
Published: 2026-07-16T15:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://global-tca.captivate.fm
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/b32d00a4-6dd1-475b-8475-b40b18119c80.mp3?aw_0_1st.showid=1366922d-44a9-4066-80a4-91e9297898df&aw_0_1st.episodeid=b32d00a4-6dd1-475b-8475-b40b18119c80
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-crime-agents-7367970/episodes/q-a-ann-widdecombe-the-flying-squad-and-should-the-irgc-be-banned
Duration seconds: 1460

## Resource

The UK government has finally proscribed Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, but what does that actually mean in practice? Andy and Neil break down what labelling the IRGC a terror group gives police and security services the power to do, and whether it will make any real difference. Neil also explains why Counter Terror Police may have taken over the Ann Widdecombe investigation, and reveals whether the Met's famous Flying Squad are still armed and operational. Plus: should police tell the public more or less about ongoing investigations? Andy makes the case for how forces can rebuild public trust through better communication. Have a question for a future Q&A? Send it via email to thecrimeagents@global.com or follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents The Crime Agents is a Global production, available every Monday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

## Actions

- request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-crime-agents-7367970/episodes/q-a-ann-widdecombe-the-flying-squad-and-should-the-irgc-be-banned/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.
- read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-crime-agents-7367970/q-a-ann-widdecombe-the-flying-squad-and-should-the-irgc-be-banned.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.

A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed.

## Transcript

Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.