When former Queensland Police Setective Keith Banks joined the force, he thought he was signing up to fight crime, not work alongside it.

In this episode of Crime Insiders Detectives, Keith takes host Brent Sanders inside the world of outlaw motorcycle gangs, where power, loyalty and fear ruled the streets. But the real danger, he says, was within the Queensland Police itself. During the era of the infamous “Rat Pack,” corruption ran deep, and it took the Fitzgerald Inquiry to finally drag it into the light.

Keith reveals what it was like leading the bikie intelligence unit during Queensland’s most corrupt chapter of policing, the price he paid for speaking out, and how the trauma of policing left him with PTSD. 

If this episode raised any issues for you, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever heard of the Australian cult The Family...?

It was led by a woman named Anne Hamilton-Byrne. How did she control her followers? How did the police eventually catch her? And what happened to the dozens of children that were in the 'care' of The Family.

Lex de Man investigated The Family for more than four years, and helped rescue dozens of children from the abuse of Anne Hamilton-Byrne and her followers.

In this Rewind episode of Crime Insiders | Detectives, Lex de Man walks host Brent Sanders through the case in exclusive detail, and explains how he and the Victorian Police were able to arrest and charge Anne Hamilton-Byrne.

This episode contains references to the abuse of children. If it affected you, the number for LifeLine is 13 11 14.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the early 1990s, former New Zealand Prime Minister David Lange found himself at the center of a defamation storm in Australia.

The ABC re-broadcast allegations suggesting he acted improperly while in office. Lange sued, sparking a legal battle that reached the High Court and tested the limits of free political communication under the Constitution. Lange v ABC set a landmark precedent: political speech is protected, but not at the expense of personal reputation.

In this episode, we unpack the courtroom drama, the judgment, and the enduring impact on media, politics, and the law in Australia.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The body of 27-year-old mother of two, Samantha Bodsworth, was found in Noosa, surrounded by wattle trees.  The killer thinks it’s the perfect crime, but what they underestimated was the power of the tiny, silent witnesses clinging to almost everything they touched – pollen.

In this Rewind episode of Crime Insiders | Forensics, former host Kathryn Fox talks to Dr Lynne Milne, the scientist at the forefront of forensic palynology.  We learn how, for the first time in an Australian criminal case, pollen helped unmask a murderer.

This episode references men's violence against women. If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services. The number for Life Line is 13 11 14.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Atkinson is a former Victorian police officer.  In this episode of Crime Insiders | Detectives, Andrew discusses his journey from general duties to the Technical Surveillance Unit and his deployments with the United Nations in Timor and Iraq.

He candidly addresses the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder on his life and career, emphasising the importance of mental health awareness and support for police veterans.

Andrew reflects on the physical challenges he faced due to his service, including cancer and multiple surgeries, and highlights the need for open discussions about mental health in law enforcement. He advocates for the creation of supportive networks for current and former officers to help them navigate their experiences and challenges.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A ship is wrecked off the coast of Western Australia. It’s cargo sank with it. Many of those on board perished in the tragedy.

Who owns what remains on board the ship at the bottom of the Ocean?

Back in the 1970s, one man decided to find out.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Would you be able to get away with lying?

In this Rewind episode of Crime Insiders | Detectives, expert lie detector Steve Van Aperen talks to former host Adam Shand about the clear give aways of liars, how certain criminals have tried to clear a lie detector test and some of the biggest murder cases that have been brought to justice through a simple line of deceptive questioning.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special bonus episode of Crime Insiders, we go behind the scenes with our Forensics host, Liz Porter to find out what it was about forensics that lured her into her extraordinary career.

Weekend Briefing host Antoinette Lattouf digs deep with Liz about how forensics is not what you see on television and how and why Liz came to be a forensics author and podcast host.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A murder, a conviction and a twenty-year fight to clear your name.

This is the story of Henry James Keogh who was convicted and served twenty years in prison for a murder he didn't commit.

How did he finally receive justice and what can we learn from the botched forensic procedures that led to his wrongful conviction

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More Aussies have tattoos than ever before; 1 in 5 of us have at least 1 tattoo. That number is growing.

Even when removed or burnt, forensic experts can use tattoos to identify offenders and victims of crimes. This is one of many techniques forensic photographers like Karen Byrne use to document everything from crime scenes to autopsies.

In this Rewind episode of Crime Insiders | Forensics, former host Kathryn Fox talks to Karen about the surprising ways evidence can be captured, the emotional weight of the job, and how forensic photography plays a crucial role in securing justice.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.