True Crime Catch Up with Adam Lloyd and Stuart Blues

Christmas crime in the UK doesn’t stop just because it’s the festive season. In this Christmas Eve episode of True Crime Catch Up, we explore real UK cases involving so-called “Bad Santas”, Christmas Eve burglaries, and festive-season offences where people dressed as Santa committed crimes around the holidays. This relaxed roundup-style episode examines why crime often increases at Christmas, how offenders exploit seasonal routines and celebrations, and the impact these crimes have on victims. While lighter in tone than our usual episodes, this conversation is a reminder that festive crime is still serious, and that awareness matters - even at Christmas. Follow True Crime Catch Up on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen to our solo podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Murders with Stuart Blues⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠UK True Crime Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christmas parties are meant to be a time to unwind - a few drinks, familiar faces, and a break from the everyday routine - but the festive season also brings real and often overlooked dangers. In this video, we explore the deadly reality of one-punch killings, where a split-second act of violence can end one life and permanently destroy another. We examine how these incidents typically unfold on nights out, the role alcohol plays, and whether sentencing for one-punch manslaughter truly reflects the harm caused. We also look at other risks that spike during the festive period, including fake taxi drivers and drink spiking. From offenders impersonating licensed cabbies to gain trust, to the growing number of spiking cases that never result in charges, we break down the methods used, the legal challenges involved, and the devastating impact on victims. Alongside real cases, we discuss prevention, public awareness and personal safety - asking whether more can be done to stop these crimes before tragedy strikes. Follow True Crime Catch Up on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen to our solo podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Murders with Stuart Blues⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ UK True Crime Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Facial recognition technology is expanding fast across the UK - from police vans and high streets to pubs, stadiums, and even private doorbell cameras - and many are asking whether we’re stepping into a world George Orwell warned us about decades ago. In this video, we break down what the UK Government’s new facial-recognition plans actually mean, why police forces are being encouraged to ramp up live and retrospective scanning, and how public opinion has shifted as the technology becomes impossible to avoid. We explore the accuracy concerns, the bias warnings, and the growing fear that innocent people could be misidentified in real time. We also look at the debate around prevention vs reaction: can facial recognition genuinely stop violent crimes before they happen, or does it only identify offenders after tragedy has already unfolded? With comparisons to 1984 and Big Brother, rising privacy concerns, and new government pledges to expand biometrics nationwide, this episode asks whether increased surveillance is making us safer - or simply more watched. Follow True Crime Catch Up on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen to our solo podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠British Murders with Stuart Blues⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UK True Crime Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A moment of celebration on May 26, 2025, turned into a scene of chaos, and now Paul Doyle - the man behind the Liverpool FC victory parade car assault - has finally pleaded guilty. In this episode, we break down exactly what happened that day, why more than 130 people were injured as Doyle’s car ploughed into the crowds, and what his guilty plea means for the victims, the city of Liverpool, and the upcoming sentencing. We also look at Justice Secretary David Lammy’s proposal to scrap juries for anything other than the most “serious” crimes, the rise in road-rage incidents across the UK, and the growing reality that footage of terror attacks reaches social media within minutes, forcing survivors to relive traumatic events through viral clips. Follow True Crime Catch Up on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen to our solo podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠British Murders with Stuart Blues⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UK True Crime Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is Black Friday a harmless shopping event or the most dangerous time of year for scammers to strike? In this episode, we dig into why Black Friday has become a prime opportunity for criminals — from fake retail websites and phishing emails to delivery text scams, marketplace fraud, and “too good to be true” deals designed to empty your bank account. We break down how scammers operate, why fraud spikes every November, and the psychological tricks that make shoppers more vulnerable. We also explore the origins of Black Friday, how it spread to the UK, and the retail tactics that blur the line between marketing and manipulation. Plus, we share practical tips to help you stay safe, avoid common traps, and shop smarter this Black Friday. Follow True Crime Catch Up on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠social media⁠⁠⁠⁠ Listen to our solo podcasts: ⁠⁠British Murders with Stuart Blues⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠UK True Crime Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices