Saturday 11 October 2025 • Blackfriars, Newcastle upon Tyne
In October 2025, we hosted the very first True Crime Forum. Attendees gathered in the historic halls of Blackfriars for a full day of expert-led talks, practical forensic sessions, live podcasts, and thoughtful community discussion.
Here is a look back at how the inaugural Forum came to life, what our guests experienced, and what people had to say.
Real feedback from attendees who joined us for the very first event in Newcastle.
Such a great day! Great meetings with informative speakers & lovely chats with friendly attendees- the only problem I had was wishing I could be in more than one place at a time!
Brilliant event, really good value for money. Engaging talks and lovely atmosphere.
Excellent event, really well run and efficient. The speakers were really knowledgeable, friendly and engaging. So glad I went, would definitely be interested in similar events in the future.
Real moments from the workshops, conversations, interactive investigations, and social breaks at Blackfriars.
The inaugural 2025 programme featured nine specialist sessions spanning forensic evidence, media ethics, law, cult psychology, and regional true crime history.
FORUM 202501Experienced CSIs, Mass Disaster Response consultants and hosts of The Crime Scene Insiders podcast took attendees under the barrier tape of real investigations to debunk popular entertainment crime myths.
FORUM 202502Senior Lecturer in Journalism and Director of Education at Newcastle University examining the ethical boundaries, media framing, and public impact of true crime coverage in modern digital culture.
FORUM 202503Associate Professor in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice at Durham University exploring how the law, culture, and wider social attitudes regulate and control women's bodies and reproductive choices.
FORUM 202504Holding an MS in the Psychology of Coercive Control and co-developer of the ECCUS scale, Kacey delivered a gripping deep dive into psychological manipulation within high-control groups.
FORUM 202505Award-winning North East death educators creating a supportive, taboo-breaking space to gently explore and challenge hidden narratives around death, loss and grief.
FORUM 202506The parents of Holly Newton teamed up with Rosewood Independent School to provide vital education on recognizing early warning signs of domestic abuse, coercive control, and how to seek support.
FORUM 202507A live recording unravelling vintage North Eastern cases with eccentric regional characters, suspicious clues, and historic regional true crime storytelling.
FORUM 202508Demystifying the magistracy, sentencing guidelines, community courts, and the day-to-day realities of the UK criminal justice system.
FORUM 202509A welcoming, hands-on self-defence session introducing situational awareness, simple de-escalation strategies, and foundational physical safety techniques.
Saturday 10 October 2026 • Maldron Hotel Newcastle upon Tyne
Following our inaugural launch, True Crime Forum returns for a bigger full-day experience: two curated workshop sessions, lunch included, and an interactive team Detective Experience.