Latest news with #Swindle
Edinburgh Live
11-07-2025
- Edinburgh Live
Former Edinburgh police chief says murderers 'must reveal where bodies are to get parole'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A former police chief who brought killer Peter Tobin to justice says he backs calls for murderers who do not reveal where victims' bodies are to be kept in prison. David Swindle told the Daily Record podcast, Criminal Record, that he backs Suzanne's Law. This demands that killers must disclose their victim's whereabouts if they are to be considered for parole. The Scottish Government has included a proposal for Suzanne's Law in the Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill which is going through parliament. Suzanne's Law is named after office worker Suzanne Pilley, who was murdered by colleague and ex David Gilroy in 2010. He was sentenced to life in 2012 but has never revealed what he did with her body, which is believed to be buried in Argyll. Other high-profile cases include Arlene Fraser, Margaret Fleming and Lynda Spence. Swindle, who probed more than 100 murders in a 34-year police career, said: 'We need to have something like a Suzanne's Law to stop people getting out if they don't reveal what they did with the body. 'With Suzanne Pilley her body has never been found and there is a person convicted of that, the same as Arlene Fraser, Margaret Fleming and Lynda Spence. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox 'These people have never revealed what they did with the bodies. If they don't reveal what they did they should not then be eligible for parole. If your loved one is murdered by someone who is in prison and has never revealed what they did with the body you would not want them to get out." Swindle, who retired in 2011, says a murder without a body leaves victims' families in limbo. He added: 'People think by destroying the body that there is no evidence but you will still be caught." England and Wales already have a similar measure – Helen's Law. Suzanne's dad Rob died in 2019 without knowing where she was buried. Detectives believe Gilroy killed her in the building where they worked in Edinburgh after he confronted her over ending their affair. Arlene, from Elgin, Moray, vanished from her home in 1998 after her children went to school. Her husband Nat Fraser, who is serving life for her murder, has refused to say what became of his wife. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. Avril Jones and Edward Cairney were jailed for life in 2019 for killing Margaret, 19, at their home in Inverkip. They refused to say where they put her. Financial adviser Lynda was abducted, tortured and killed in 2011. Colin Coats and Philip Wade were convicted of killing the 27-year-old Glaswegian in 2013. Her body has never been found. Swindle led the probe into Tobin's murder of Polish student Angelika Kluk in Glasgow in 2006 for which he got life. He set up Operation Anagram which led to Tobin being convicted of the murders of Vicky Hamilton, 15, and Dinah McNicol, 18. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "The Justice Secretary supported an amendment at Stage 2 in May which requires the Parole Board to take account of whether the prisoner has information about the disposal of the victim's remains but has not disclosed it. "If the Bill is passed then this will become law."
Edinburgh Live
10-07-2025
- Edinburgh Live
Former cop who helped put Peter Tobin in Edinburgh prison says AI can solve more murders
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A former police chief who brought serial killer Peter Tobin to justice has said advances in technology, including AI, could help solve more murders. David Swindle let the investigation into Tobin's murder of Polish student Angelika Kluk in Glasgow 2006. He then launched Operation Anagram, a UK wide probe which saw Tobin convicted of the murders of two other women - 15 year old Vicky Hamilton from Bathgate, West Lothian and 18 year old student Dinah McNicol from Essex in England, reports the Daily Record. In an exclusive interview with Criminal Record, Swindle said: "Tobin has killed other people. I have no doubt of that. "We don't know how many people, it could be 48 it could be 480. That is the sad reality. Tobin was in total denial of the murders he had been convicted of and never admitted killing other people. "I was proud of the work we did on Operation Anagram but sad that we never found other victims." Swindle says CCTV systems, door bell cameras, dash cam footage, mobile phone and DNA analysis are examples of the type of modern technology that would have nailed killers in the past had they been available to detectives at the time. Now he is hoping future technological advances such as AI and improvements to DNA testing will throw up evidence of other murders Tobin has committed. He believes his crimes are comparable to those of other serial killers such Fred and Rosemary West, Ian Brady and Denis Nilsen. However Swindle doesn't think Tobin is Bible John, the man said to have murdered three young Glasgow mothers in the late 1960s. He carried out two cold case reviews of the unsolved homicides when he was in the force and believes the three killings may be the work of more than one man. Handyman Tobin met Angelika while they were both working at St Patrick's Church in Glasgow. The 23 year old's body was found buried under floorboards after she was reported missing and police discovered she had been stabbed, beaten and raped. Tobin was convicted of her murder the following year at the High Court in Glasgow and sentenced to life. Swindle added: "I set up Operation Anagram after the murder of Angelika Kluk to look at Tobin's whole life and where he was from the time he was born. "As a result we identified that Tobin had killed two other women - Vicky Hamilton and Dinah McNicol. Tobin targeted people who were vulnerable. Angelika was vulnerable. A young woman in a strange country trying to earn a living. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox "He was a murderer, a serial killer, a horrible cowardly killer. Tobin didn't confess to anything. He was interviewed at length numerous times buy our Anagram team using expert psychologists and profilers. "Tobin was a narcissistic controlling individual that denied everything to the bitter end." Tobin died in 2022 at the age of 76 at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. He had also been convicted of the murders of Vicky Hamilton and Dinah McNicol and given two additional life sentences. During the Anagram investigation police discovered items of women's jewellery at properties in Scotland and England where Tobin had lived which they suspect may have been kept by him as souvenirs. Swindle believes these items are the key to identifying other victims. He said: "There are different women's DNA on that jewellery which we have never identified. I believe they are the result of some horrible acts. "There is the hope that perhaps one day we will identify the owners. The question is why does a serial killer have women's jewellery? We always live in hope that perhaps some day there will be a body or human remains that links Tobin into the DNA we have got." Swindle is convinced that improvements in forensic science will finally bring justice to Tobin's other victims. He said: "Technology changes, things change over the years. Policing has changed dramatically since I joined in 1977. Things will continue to change and continue to improve. "I don't know where we will be in ten years time. The big thing that comes up is Artificial Intelligence. It will never replace the role of the detective But we can make better use of it and the police can use it more." Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. Swindle says it's possible that improvements in forensic science could also be used to solve the Bible John murders. Three women, Patricia Docker, Jemima MacDonald and Helen Puttock, were found murdered near their homes in Glasgow between 1968 and 1969 after spending the evening in the city's Barrowland Ballroom. The sister of the third victim Helen Puttock told police that a man who had shared a taxi with them from the Barrowland and was suspected of being her killer had quoted extensively from the bible during the journey. As a result the mystery man was dubbed Bible John by newspapers. Swindle added: "I was involved in reviewing these murders twice. I wasn't convinced that the same person was involved in all three. Tobin is not Bible John. "There is no evidence to say that Peter Tobin is the person who killed these three people. There was some DNA examined and it wasn't Tobin's" During his reviews of the case Swindle also discovered that Tobin who was newly married had also been living in Brighton in the south of England around the time of the murders of Jemima MacDonald and Helen Puttock. The DNA which was compared to Tobin's was from the clothing of Helen Puttock.
Glasgow Times
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Peter Tobin detective brings true crime show to Glasgow
David Swindle, best known for his work on the Tobin case and leading Operation Anagram, will be on stage at Barras Art & Design for 'Murder: A Search for the Truth' on October 12. Mr Swindle will explore the realities of murder investigations alongside Sunday Mail columnist, broadcaster, and publicist Heather Suttie. Read more: 'Immeasurable' impact of new garden area at Hamilton hospital Man charged after 'wilful fire raising' and 'vandalism' at cemetery Mr Swindle said: "I'm looking forward to being on stage with Heather, bringing together a new dynamic of the detective's insight and an inquisitive publicist's questions. "This tour is a rare chance to hear real stories and understand the truth behind the headlines." With more than 30 years of experience in policing, Mr Swindle has been involved in hundreds of murder cases, supporting families and cracking major crimes. The event will delve into some of the UK's most challenging investigations, including suspicious deaths abroad and unresolved cases at home. Ms Suttie will pose the questions the public wants answered. Together, they will examine why killers commit their crimes and whether it is possible to identify them before they strike. They will also discuss whether a perfect murder could ever exist. Tickets for the event are priced at £24 plus a booking fee and are available via Eventbrite and
Glasgow Times
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Cop who helped catch Peter Tobin to bring show to Glasgow
David Swindle, known for unmasking serial killer Peter Tobin and leading Operation Anagram, will present Murder: A Search for the Truth on October 12 at Barras Art and Design from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Tickets are on sale now for £24, plus a booking fee, and are available via Eventbrite. With more than 40 years of experience, Swindle is known for guiding audiences through some of Britain's darkest crimes. Read more: Parents' views sought on Glasgow plans to move spring break dates What Ancelotti insider is 'hearing' about Rangers as fan opinion laid bare Major plans revealed for new 60-home development Swindle will be joined on stage by broadcaster and publicist Heather Suttie. She is expected to ask probing questions that resonate with the audience's interests. The show will cover a range of topics, including behind-the-scenes details from high-profile murder cases, insights from the Peter Tobin investigation, the psychology of killers, and whether someone can commit the perfect murder. Swindle said: "Too often, the killer gets the spotlight. "This show is about truth, justice, and the people left behind. "It's always about the victims." For those intrigued by true crime documentaries, podcasts filled with unsolved cases, or simply curious about the workings of real investigations, this show promises to be an unforgettable two-hour experience.
Scotsman
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Murder: A Search for the Truth with international crime expert David Swindle
International crime expert David Swindle brings his gripping live show Murder – A Search for the Truth to Glasgow on Sunday, October 12 at the city's award winning venue, Barras Art and Design from 1.30–3.30pm. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Known for unmasking serial killer Peter Tobin and leading the now-infamous Operation Anagram, Swindle is a seasoned investigator who knows exactly how to hold a room. This isn't a theatrical retelling — it's the real story, stripped back. With over 40 years of experience, Swindle guides audiences through Britain's darkest crimes with a clarity and calm that's hard to ignore. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He's joined on stage by broadcaster and publicist Heather Suttie, whose sharp questions get to the heart of what the audience really wants to know Heather Suttie & David Swindle What's covered: Behind-the-scenes details from high-profile murder cases Insights from the Peter Tobin investigation and cold cases The psychology of killers: nature vs nurture Warning signs — can you tell who's capable of murder? And the question that won't go away — can someone commit the perfect murder? Swindle doesn't dramatise. He informs. Expect plain speaking, uncomfortable truths and the victim's story at the centre of it all. 'Too often, the killer gets the spotlight. This show is about truth, justice and the people left behind. It's always about the victims.' – David Swindle. Heather Suttie & David Swindle Suttie brings a publicist's insight and a true crime fan's curiosity — asking the questions the audience is thinking. Together, they break down each case, piece by piece. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad If you obsess over true crime documentaries, have a podcast queue full of unsolved cases, or want to hear how real investigators work, this is two hours you won't forget.
