Photo of John Simpson
John Simpson

Home Affairs Editor

Photo of John Simpson

John Simpson

Home Affairs Editor

  • John Simpson
    Lammy under fire after another four leave jail in error

    Latest blunder leaves prisoners at large as hundreds mistakenly released each year

    Sun, 9 Nov 2025

  • John Simpson
    Lawless London

    London has earned a reputation as Europe's phone theft capital. A record 80,000 phones were stolen last year. Yet data shows a twist – while devices are at risk, people themselves are safer than they've been in decades. Host: Casey Magloire Writer & Producer: Amalie Sortland Episode Photography: Joe Mee Executive producer: Katie Gunning

    9 min • S1, E1218

  • John Simpson
    Missing sex offender asked police how to find train station

    Hadush Kebatu, who was due to be deported, was put on a train to London instead

    Sun, 26 Oct 2025

  • John Simpson
    Manchester synagogue terror attack

    Two Jewish people were killed in a terrorist attack at a Manchester synagogue. Did President Trump and Pete Hegseth cross the line with their inflammatory speeches to military generals? And what's behind the surge in profits at soft toy maker Jellycat?   Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer's Erica Wagner, John Simpson and Sam Freedman, as they pitch their top story of the day.    

    31 min • S1, E274

  • John Simpson
    ‘Lawless London’ is safer than it’s been in decades

    Official data suggests the capital may be safer than at any time in the past half century, beating other major cities

    Fri, 24 Oct 2025

  • John Simpson
    Tommy Robinson’s US backers

    Tommy Robinson has transformed from a scrappy activist, to a slick media performer at the heart of the UK's far-right movement.

    7 min • S1, E1195

  • John Simpson
    Lostprophets singer convicted of child sex crimes is killed in jail

    Ian Watkins, 48, said to have died having being knifed by a fellow prisoner in HMP Wakefield after surviving earlier attempt

    Sun, 12 Oct 2025

  • John Simpson
    Why is Donald Trump targeting Brazil?

    Are male novelists a dying breed? Can women trust apps with their personal data? Are tariffs the only way Donald Trump knows how to do diplomacy? Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer's Home Affairs Editor John Simpson, Head of Data and Graphics Katie Riley and Consulting Editor for Comment, Erica Wagner.   

    33 min • S1, E256

  • John Simpson
    Protests erupt over Gaza after plea to respect grief

    More than 400 demonstrators were arrested in London on Saturday, while tensions ran high at a Manchester vigil for the victims of Thursday’s attack

    Mon, 6 Oct 2025

  • John Simpson
    Rape cases are collapsing in record numbers

    Hundreds of victims and witnesses are walking away from rape cases before they reach trial

    6 min • S1, E1148

  • John Simpson
    Was it fate that brought me to the synagogue?

    When firefighter Tom Ludley responded to the synagogue attack, he was determined not to relive the mistakes of 2017

    Sat, 4 Oct 2025

  • John Simpson
    Broken ranks: civil war in the police fed

    Police officers aren’t allowed to strike or join a trade union. They rely instead on an organisation called the Police Federation to represent their interests. It’s a surprisingly powerful body that ultimately affects the way all of us are policed. This is the story of how it lost its way.

    40 min • S1, E304

  • John Simpson
    Police bullet killed victim at Manchester synagogue

    Chief constable confirms that shots fired at attacker hit two worshippers, killing one and wounding the other

    Fri, 3 Oct 2025

  • John Simpson
    Fears grow over far right’s embrace of crypto

    Hard-to trace digital transactions could lead to hostile states threatening democracy

    Sun, 21 Sept 2025

  • John Simpson
    How US cash made Tommy Robinson

    An American tech billionaire was instrumental in funding the far-right figure’s rise to stardom – and even paid for his new set of teeth

    Sun, 14 Sept 2025

  • John Simpson
    Prepare for revolution now, Elon Musk tells London rally

    US tech billionaire calls for downfall of Labour government in speech to 110,000 marchers at Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom protest

    Sun, 14 Sept 2025

  • John Simpson
    Hundreds arrested at Palestine Action protest

    A mass demonstration in Parliament Square that planned to see at least 1,000 people detained may reach its target, says the Met

    Sat, 6 Sept 2025

  • John Simpson
    Family raise alarm at Palestine activist’s prison hunger strike

    Teuta Hoxha has refused food for three weeks in dispute with managers of Peterborough prison

    Sat, 30 Aug 2025

  • John Simpson
    How Epping lit the fuse on migrant hotels crisis

    Nationwide protests fizzle out after few answer the call in the wake of legal ruling

    Sun, 24 Aug 2025

  • John Simpson
    ‘My daughter isn't a terrorist. Why is she in prison?’

    The mother of jailed Palestine Action protester says she is proud of her and angry at the UK government

    Sun, 17 Aug 2025

  • John Simpson
    Home secretary doubles down following surge in prosecutions

    Up to 1,000 more protesters plan to declare support for proscribed group, risking arrest

    Sun, 17 Aug 2025

  • John Simpson
    UK team works with French to break up Channel gangs

    Record numbers of small boat crossings projected this year, despite 52 people smuggling networks broken up by joint police force

    Mon, 11 Aug 2025

  • John Simpson
    Charity rowers chased after being mistaken for migrants

    Crew raising money for motor neurone disease research tracked by a mob after Instagram post by ex-Reform MP Rupert Lowe

    Sun, 10 Aug 2025

  • John Simpson
    Hundreds arrested at peaceful protest in Parliament Square

    Nurses, doctors, retired people and architects among 466 protesters arrested as terrorism suspects

    Sun, 10 Aug 2025

  • John Simpson
    Protest or terrorism? Palestine Action wins right to challenge ban

    After more than 200 arrests, activists are hoping to build on last week’s court ruling with a mass demonstration on Saturday that could fill police cells

    Sun, 3 Aug 2025

  • John Simpson
    Immigration now trumps economy for UK voters

    As fears grow of a backlash against asylum seekers and a summer of disorder, polling shows a change in people’s priorities

    Sun, 27 Jul 2025

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