In this episode of Real Crime with Adam Shand, we sit down with former Victoria Police inspector Pat Boyle, one of Australia’s foremost experts on street gangs. Nearly two decades ago, Boyle warned of the rising tide of youth gang culture in Melbourne — a problem many dismissed at the time. Drawing on his frontline experience, international research and a groundbreaking master’s thesis, Boyle reveals how denial, political correctness, and under-resourcing left police ill-equipped to deal with the violent gang landscape we face today.

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In this gripping episode, Adam is joined by forensic archaeologist Dr. Louise Steding to revisit the unsolved 1953 murder of 14-year-old Shirley Collins. Shirley disappeared on her way to a birthday party in Melbourne, only to be found brutally murdered days later at Mount Martha. Despite intensive police work, the case went cold—until Louise’s meticulous research uncovered overlooked evidence and a compelling new suspect. Together, Adam and Louise retrace the crime, challenge unreliable witness accounts and explore how modern forensic science might finally solve this haunting mystery.

Read Dr Lousie Steding's Book "Inconceivable Malice: Profiling the Killer of Shirley Cooper" here:

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When a simple arrest spiralled into years of harassment, retired detective Peter Kos found himself battling more than just the lawbreakers — he was battling the legal system itself. In this episode of Real Crime, Peter shares how he became the target of a relentless group of so-called “sovereign citizens” who flooded him with threats, false accusations and legal stunts designed to intimidate and exhaust. From stalking charges to private prosecutions and civil suits, Peter reveals the toll this six-year ordeal took on him, and why he believes the system needs urgent reform to stop these vexatious agitators from weaponising the courts.

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Ten years ago, Dan Saunders walked into an ATM and stumbled onto one of the strangest financial loopholes in Australian history. What started as a late-night discovery turned into millions of dollars, wild nights, global headlines and ultimately—prison time.

In this conversation, journalist Adam Shand reconnects with Saunders a decade on to uncover the real story behind the myth. Was it fate? Addiction? A love of risk? Together they pull apart the legend of the “ATM glitch” to reveal the truth about gambling, temptation, the justice system and the lasting consequences of chasing excitement at all costs.

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In this episode of Real Crime with Adam Shand, Adam speaks with Fleur, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse who has spent decades fighting to be heard. Abused by her stepfather and dismissed by police in the 1980s, Fleur is still seeking justice as her elderly abuser lives freely.

She shares her story of trauma, resilience, and determination, while Adam asks why authorities continue to delay action. A confronting but essential conversation about truth, survival, and the urgent need for justice.

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In this gripping episode of Real Crime with Adam Shand, award-winning journalist John Ferguson of The Australian takes us inside one of the most shocking murder cases in recent Australian history — the Erin Patterson “mushroom lunch” killings. From the first police raid to the courtroom revelations, Ferguson shares how he broke the story that went global, what the jury didn’t hear and the chilling details of Patterson’s lies, motives and downfall.

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In this episode of Real Crime with Adam Shand, renowned forensic pathologist Dr. David Ranson takes us inside the world of crime scenes, cold cases and the science that helps solve them. From the myths of the “perfect murder” to the reality of domestic violence cases, Ranson reveals how forensic pathology uncovers not just causes of death, but the human stories behind them.

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In this episode, we sit down with former Special Operations Group officer George Hateley—the man who introduced the taser to Australia. George unpacks decades of frontline experience, from lethal armed robberies to confronting some of Australia’s most dangerous criminals. He addresses the controversy around tasers, the Claire Nowland case and the public misconceptions about non-lethal force.

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