True Crime Forum Newcastle 2026

True Crime Forum Newcastle is back for another year!

This year's Forum brings together expert talks, thoughtful workshops, unusual topics and interactive experiences for people who want to explore true crime beyond the headlines.

Across the day, you can expect a mix of serious, surprising and thought-provoking sessions covering investigation, justice, media narratives, victim experiences, psychology, wildlife crime, the Manosphere, local stories and the wider social issues that true crime often opens up.

You'll hear directly from experts, authors, researchers, former investigators, specialists and community voices working in areas of crime, harm and awareness that do not always get the attention they deserve. There will also be opportunities to ask questions, join conversations, meet other curious attendees and take part in an interactive detective experience woven into the day.

The Forum is independent, community-centred and built for people who are interested in true crime as more than something to watch, listen to or read about. It is a day for curiosity, conversation and better questions.

Your Day at the Forum

• Doors open from 9:00am
• The Forum begins at 10:00am
• You'll attend three workshop sessions throughout the day
• Lunch is included with your ticket
• You'll have opportunities to meet speakers, ask questions and connect with fellow attendees

Workshop selections are made during booking. Full programme details and joining information will be sent ahead of the event.

Refund Policy

Refunds are available up to 30 days before the event. After this date, tickets are non-refundable. Where a refund is issued, only the ticket price will be refunded; booking fees are non-refundable.

Line-up

Options for Workshop 1 - 10:30 - 12:00

Dr Bethany Usher - Lucy Letby: How Does Media Change the Narrative
Join our guest speaker Senior Lecturer in Journalism (Theory and Practice) and Director of Education at Newcastle University for a talk on Lucy Letby and the media narrative. 

Workie Ticket Theatre - Staging violence against women and girls
An interactive workshop led by the Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Workie Ticket Theatre, JoJo Kirtley exploring how theatre can be used to examine and challenge crimes of violence against women and girls, including domestic abuse, coercive control and post-separation abuse.

The Crime Scene Insiders
This workshop will be delivered by experienced CSI, Mass Disaster Response consultant and host of the new True Crime Podcast, The Crime Scene Insiders. Dionne Watson will take you under the barrier tape of real investigations, in this insightful and practical workshop. Get ready to get hands-on and a little bit mucky!

Options for Workshop 2 - 13:00 - 14:30

Dr. Rebecca Owens - Why the Manosphere Appeals to Men and Boys - But Isn’t Inevitable
The manosphere are online spaces often linked to misogyny, incel ideology and concerns around radicalisation. This talk asks what draws men and boys there in the first place? Drawing on psychology and evolutionary theory, Dr Rebecca Owens will explore the need for belonging, identity and social value that can make these communities appealing. This session will examine who is being drawn in, what they may be looking for, and how we might better understand these spaces if we are serious about preventing isolation, misogyny and harm.

Paul Bateman - Out-Thinking the Offenders: Why Training is our Best Weapon Against Wildlife Crime
Wildlife crime is often hidden in plain sight. In this interactive workshop, learn about the challenges faced by wildlife crime investigators, take part in practical observation and evidence-based exercises, and see how everyday awareness can help protect UK wildlife. No prior knowledge is needed, just curiosity and an interest in understanding crimes that often go unseen.

Tanita Matthews - From Research to Release: The Unfinished Investigation of Peter Sutcliffe
Join Journalist and Documentary Producer Tanita Matthews, for a delve into her work on her book, The Murder of Judith Roberts: The Mark of Peter Sutcliffe, which received a Highly Commended accolade at the True Crime Awards 2025. Co-written with retired Norfolk detective Chris Clark, Tanita has spent years examining Peter Sutcliffe’s offending history and the wider questions surrounding crimes that were never fully investigated.

Workshop 3 - 15:00-17:00

The Detective Rooms
Join us for an interactive, team-led, detective experience! You will work together to examine evidence, follow leads, test theories and make decisions as a case unfolds. Part detective challenge, part team experience, this session offers a chance to get closer to the realities of investigation and see whether you have what it takes to crack the case.