Crime and Investigation Network's blog

Tuesday, July 14, at 7.30pm

Shocking series that peers behind the lace curtains of suburban Britain to expose its dark, sinful and murderous underbelly.

This series of contemporary detective stories reveal that criminality is not only confined to the cities – in fact some of the most gruesome and unexpected crimes in recent history have taken place amongst the most unsuspecting and apparently innocent of communities.

Nightmare in Suburbia tells the stories of some of Britain’s hardest to solve murders by combining interviews with the investigating officers, friends and family together with actual police footage, CCTV, home video and stills. Episodes include the case of a wife lacing her husband’s favourite meal of curry with anti-freeze; the story of a respectable suburban wife turned internet dominatrix and ultimately murderer; and a woman who decided that the best way to solve her financial difficulties was to convince her nephew to carry out a gruesome crime.

Sunday, July 12, at 8.30pm

On October 22, 1993, 52-year-old Gerald Boggs was found murdered in his Steamboat Springs, Colorado home. Soon police had a solid suspect: Boggs’s ex-wife, Jill Coit. The two had been married a mere seven days before Boggs got the marriage annulled due to the fact that Coit was still married to someone else and Coit was in the process of suing Boggs for the deed to a bed and breakfast they co-owned when he was murdered. Even though Coit produced an alibi, corroborated by a boyfriend, police soon discovered that she was not the innocent she painted herself to be. Coit had been married ten times, sometimes committing bigamy, and a few of her former husbands had died under mysterious circumstances.

Thursday July 2 at 10.30pm

London is one of the toughest and busiest city centres to police anywhere in the world. The police officers who work here deal with a huge range of crimes – from pickpockets and vagrants to organised gangs of drug dealers and robbers.

This new observational documentary series will show how the Metropolitan Police keep the peace and keep visitors safe in the hustle and bustle of the centre of London.

Central London with its world-famous shopping streets is a mecca for organised pickpockets and shoplifters. The Met are mounting specialist operations to tackle and battle against high street criminals.

And if London is one of the toughest beats in the world, Soho must be one of the busiest. With exclusive access to Westminster Clubs and Vice Unit, the series film with the police at the front line in the war against street crime – from prostitution and bag snatching to organised gangs of drug dealers and robbers.

Wednesday, July 1, at 9.30pm

In the seedy bars and on the filthy streets of the Philippines, children are bought and sold for sex, used, abused and even killed. This is the story of Father Shay Cullen’s crusade to end the horrific trade in child sex by bringing offenders to justice.

Friday June 26 at 9.30pm

Compelling documentary that helps shops fight back by catching shoplifters in the act. With an ever-increasing tide of thefts threatening the future of small high street businesses, Shoplifters Caught on Camera works in collaboration with the police to catch unsuspecting shoplifters, following the stories of both thieves and victims from the moment the program’s security team hides tiny cameras in at-risk shops, through arrest and trial to conviction.

Thursday, June 25, at 7.30pm AEST on Crime & Investigation Network

FOXTEL’s smash-hit true crime series, Crime Investigation Australia, explores the 1987 disappearance and murder of a young Sunshine Coast girl in the world premiere of Murder of Innocence – Sian Kingi, premiering exclusively on the CI Network on Thursday, June 25 at 7:30pm AEST.

Hosted by Steve Liebmann, this episode of CIA features detailed re-enactments, archive news footage, interviews with a number of the main investigating police as well as an intimate interview with Nicole Close – a nurse who narrowly escaped abduction by the murderous pair only weeks earlier.

On November 27, 1987, 12-year-old Noosa school girl, Sian Kingi was on her way home from school when she was grabbed off her pushbike by husband and wife, Barrie John Watts, 34, and Valmae Fay Beck, 44.

Beck and Watts gagged the terrified child, driving her to a nearby forest, where Watts proceeded to rape and stab her. He then callously, and without remorse, cut her throat while his cowardly wife, a mother of six, watched on.

Six days later, a fruit picker discovered Sian’s mutilated body, still dressed in her Year Seven Sunshine Beach School uniform, in a creek bed.

As a result of thorough and dedicated police work by Queensland detectives, and in concert with New South Wales police, Beck and Watts were located hiding in a motel at The Entrance on the NSW Central Coast a few weeks later.

FOXTEL’s world premiere of CRIME INVESTIGATION AUSTRALIA: MURDER OF INNOCENCE – SIAN KINGI is on Crime & Investigation Network, Thursday, June 25, at 7:30pm AEST.

Thursday June 25 at 7.30pm

On 27 November, 1987, 12-year-old Noosa school girl, Sian Kingi was grabbed off her push bike by Valmae Fay Beck and Barrie John Watts as she rode home from school. Beck and Watts gagged the innocent, terrified child. Watts then raped and bashed her. He then callously, and without remorse, cut her throat while his cowardly wife and mother of six watched on. Six days later, a fruit picker discovered Sian’s mutilated body, still dressed in her Year Seven Sunshine Beach School uniform, in a creek bed. The hunt for the killers and their arrest was led by Bob Atkinson, now Queensland’s police commissioner. As a result of thorough and dedicated police work by Queensland detectives, and in concert with New South Wales police, Beck and Watts were located hiding in a motel at Long Jetty on the NSW Central Coast a few weeks later. Police believe Beck and Watts are linked to the murders of Sharron Phillips, 20, in Brisbane’s outer west, Stella Mary Farrugia, 19, and Louise Bell, 10, in Adelaide. In 1995, Watts was convicted of the manslaughter of 31-year-old student, Helen Mary Feeney in late 1987. Beck gave evidence against Watts, though Ms Feeney’s body has never been found. In 2008 Beck was hospitalised and underwent heart surgery, but later died in hospital.

Wednesday June 24 at 9.30pm

Eye-opening documentary that traces the evil individuals who prey on homeless and vulnerable children with sexual exploitation, their ultimate aim. Profiling the claims made by the abused against the perpetrators of these hideous crimes, a man called Edward knows videos have been made in Amsterdam in which young boys are abused and killed, and that Warwick Spinks, currently in prison for paedophile offences, was involved in making them. However, police at the Paedophilia Unit, New Scotland Yard are adamant there is no evidence that snuff movies exist, though there are many in which boys are abused. This informative program allows victims and relatives alike to tell of their harrowing ordeals and uncover the harsh truths behind a terrible industry.

Tuesday June 23 at 9.30pm

Kids looking for kicks have found a dangerous new thrill: dipping marijuana, tobacco, even spices in embalming fluid to create a new street drug called “fry”, “wet”, “illy” or “rocket fuel.” But what users don’t know is that there’s typically an additive – PCP – which can produce psychosis, schizophrenia and homicidal rage. This special takes to the streets of the USA and goes inside the world of this dangerous new drug to introduce viewers to users, dealers, doctors and cops.

Utilising interviews with users, dealers and doctors like Dr Julie Holland and Dr Lewis Nelson, this special looks at one of the most dangerous recent additions to the drugs culture on the streets of America.

Starts June 6, Saturdays at 8.00pm

Ten British reprobates are packed off to the “Alcatraz of Arizona”, a notorious prison set in the heart of the desert, famous for its no frills system and tough approach, for a short, sharp, shock back to the right side of the law. The Brits will experience the harsh reality of the prison and its unforgiving team of detention officers under the watchful eye of Joe Arpaio – America’s Toughest Sheriff, a man known for his unorthodox methods of rehabilitation and austere punishment scheme. They will mix with the prison’s hardened criminals, live in Tent City; and be subject to the rules of prison life. For the first time in their lives they’ll understand what losing their freedom is really about. It’s their last chance to redeem themselves but will it be enough to send these bad lads straight?