{"podcast":{"title":"The Crime Agents","slug":"the-crime-agents-7367970","podcast_index_feed_id":7367970,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/global-tca/","website_url":"https://global-tca.captivate.fm","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/72ac0c51-d4f1-40bc-bdef-80988560f979/PihRZsxC5k7HbwEdx9G7R_96.jpeg","author":"Global","episode_count":101,"summary":"If you want to understand what’s really happening on Britain’s streets, you need to hear this. The Crime Agents, the new podcast from the makers of The News Agents, goes beyond the headlines to uncover the truth behind crime that affects all of us. Why is violence rising? Why is public trust in the police collapsing? And what’s really driving young people to kill each other? Hosted by two insiders who have spent their lives chasing the answers, this is your front-row seat to the realities of crime today. Neil Basu, the former Head of UK Counter-Terrorism Policing, brings unparalleled experience from the front lines of law enforcement. Andy Hughes, LBC’s Crime Correspondent, has spent two decades exposing the criminal underworld as an award-winning investigative journalist. Each week, The Crime Agents dives deep into the stories you think you know - from foiled terror plots and unsolved murders, to gang culture, far-right extremism, and the tactics police use to crack the toughest cases. With over 50 years of combined experience, Neil and Andy don’t just report on crime - they’ve lived it. The Crime Agents is a Global production, available every Monday and Thursday on Global Player…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-24T04:20:33.760414+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-crime-agents-7367970"},"episode":{"title":"Q&A: Rochdale grooming gang leader & should sex offenders ever get early release?","slug":"q-a-rochdale-grooming-gang-leader-should-sex-offenders-ever-get-early-release","published_at":"2026-07-09T15:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-crime-agents-7367970/q-a-rochdale-grooming-gang-leader-should-sex-offenders-ever-get-early-release","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-crime-agents-7367970","url":"https://global-tca.captivate.fm","audio_url":"https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/5b384daf-8ce9-4cea-914a-fa6beca93418.mp3?aw_0_1st.showid=1366922d-44a9-4066-80a4-91e9297898df&aw_0_1st.episodeid=5b384daf-8ce9-4cea-914a-fa6beca93418","summary":"The leader of the Rochdale grooming gang has been freed after just 14 years - and the government says it can't deport him. Andy and Neil dissect how Shabir Ahmed ended up back on British streets, discuss why the case has provoked such fury, and give their view on what should happen to him now. They also ask whether justice has finally been served after two teenage boys who raped young girls in Hampshire were given custodial sentences on appeal. Plus, Andy explains why rapists are often given such short prison sentences, and Neil gives his view on whether sex offenders should ever be eligible for the government's early release scheme. Later, Andy reveals whether his undercover reporting has ever put him in enough danger to need close protection. 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.","meta_description":"The leader of the Rochdale grooming gang has been freed after just 14 years - and the government says it can't deport him. Andy and Neil dissect how Shabi…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1735,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-crime-agents-7367970/episodes/q-a-rochdale-grooming-gang-leader-should-sex-offenders-ever-get-early-release/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-crime-agents-7367970/q-a-rochdale-grooming-gang-leader-should-sex-offenders-ever-get-early-release.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}