Once upon a time, the police and journalists were friends and allies. But as the phone hacking scandal unfolded, and it became clear that many journalists had broken the law in their pursuit of stories, the close relationship between police and press was shattered. Scotland Yard was forced to investigate and prosecute many members of the media with whom they'd been friendly - and officers were later banned from speaking to journalists at all.

Andy explains exactly how the scandal came about, Neil talks about what it was like to run the Operation which investigated rogue reporters, and they discuss whether the fallout ended up going too far. They're joined by legendary crime journalist Martin Brunt, who uses the Nicola Bulley case as a prime example of why communication between police and the media is so important - and explains why that case could have been handled so much better.

Later, Andy and Neil look at the Manchester terror attack: they reveal what will be happening to the firearms officer who fatally shot a member of the public at a Synagogue last Friday, and how counter-terrorism police and the security services will be handling their investigation into the attacker.

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Today, Andy from The Crime Agents joined forces with fellow Global podcast The Crisis Room for a special episode to react to yesterday's terror attack at a synagogue in Manchester.

If you'd like to hear more from The Crisis Room, find episodes weekly on Global Player or wherever you get your podcasts.

What happens in the immediate aftermath of such an incident? Amber Rudd calls on her experience of responding to five terror attacks as Home Secretary in 2017 to explain what happens at COBRA, and what the security services do next to try and prevent any further attacks.

Plus - Mark Urban gives his personal response to the rising levels of anti-Semitism in the UK, while former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos describes the role the intelligence agencies will be playing in the investigation. The team also debate whether Pro-Palestinian protests planned for this weekend should be allowed to go ahead in light of the tragedy in Manchester.

In this emergency episode, Andy and Neil react to the shocking revelations in last night's Panorama, which exposed widespread racism, misogyny, and gratuitous use of violence within Charing Cross police station.

Two years after the Metropolitan Police was branded institutionally racist, sexist, and homophobic, this plunges the country's biggest police force into yet another major crisis.

Neil and Andy give their raw, personal responses to the undercover report and where it leaves the Met. They also discuss whether Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley can keep his job - as the Chief still continues to deny that his force's failings are institutional.

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It's the debate which won't go away: is stop and search a vital tool for making our streets safer? Or is it a blunt, overused tactic which unfairly targets ethnic minorities? In this episode, Andy and Neil unpack exactly how stop and search is meant to work, why it's so valued by police officers - and why it’s such a cause of tension between police and the black community in particular.

They're also joined by campaigner and activist Sayce Holmes-Lewis, who's been stopped by the police dozens of times and now works with the Met to improve the way the tactic is used. Sayce, Andy, and Neil debate what the future should be for stop and search - and whether more diversity in police forces would improve community relations.

Later, Andy speaks to Lewis Goodall from The News Agents to hear about his new Global Original podcast, Coining It.

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Have a question for the next Q&A episode? Send it to thecrimeagents@global.com

The UK is the biggest consumer of illegal drugs in Europe. From the British Pablo Escobar in the 1980s, to Albanian gangs taking over in the last decade, and a crack cocaine epidemic in between, Andy and Neil tell the story of how this shocking fact came to be a reality.

They're also joined by Tony Saggers - the man who, until recently, was the head of Drugs Threat at the National Crime Agency. Tony reveals the key role that pineapples and bananas play in drug smuggling, how the industry has changed since Brexit, and gives his theory on why Brits are so partial to illegal substances.

Later, Andy and Neil discuss whether characters like the notorious smuggler Howard Marks are responsible for glamourising the drugs trade - and debate whether it's still fair to describe cannabis as a 'gateway drug'.

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In this week's Q&A episode, Andy and Neil answer your questions on why the conviction rate for rape and other violence against women and girls is so low - and give their verdict on whether social media and the 'manosphere' is making it more dangerous than ever to be a woman. Neil also explains why he thinks the way rape is investigated in this country needs to be fundamentally changed.

They also answer questions on whether police rewards are ever actually paid out, if it's fair to say that the media is quicker to highlight violence at Notting Hill Carnival than at other major events, and how football hooligans are using social media to recruit members and organise fights.

Neil also opens up about why he feels he could and should have done more to call out institutional racism in policing while he was still in the job.

Have a question for a future episode? Email it to thecrimeagents@global.com or post it on social media: @thecrimeagents

Tommy Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom march was supposed to be in the name of free speech.

Around 150,000 people attended the protest in central London this weekend. The far right activist said he wanted it to be a family event with no violence or alcohol.

Andy and the Crime Agents team went down to find out for themselves. This special report features the voices of the protestors on the march, and the moment violence broke out.

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In the last year, a child has been arrested almost every week by counter-terrorism police. That's a record - but why is this happening? And who is trying to radicalise these children? In this special episode, Andy speaks exclusively to an undercover intelligence officer to find out more about this shocking rise in minors being held on terror charges.

Neil gives his reaction to the revelation that kids as young as 11 have been accused of these crimes - and explains why the severity of the extreme right-wing threat is growing compared to when he was running counter-terrorism policing. Andy and Neil also reveal why Russia and other hostile states are behind many of the attempts to spread this hateful, terrorist material online.

Later, they discuss whether the government should u-turn on its decision to proscribe Palestine Action after the group's latest protest led to yet another record number of arrests. And finally: were the police too heavy-handed when they arrested comedy writer Graham Linehan last week? And what of Nigel Farage claiming the UK is becoming like North Korea?

Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents