The Notorious Dr Crippen | Operation Handcuffs | 2

This episode of British Scandal, 'Operation Handcuffs,' chronicles the dramatic international manhunt for Dr. Hawley Crippen, a physician accused of murdering his wife, Belle Crippen, by dismembering her body and hiding it in his London home. After a body is discovered in his basement, Crippen flees to Europe with his mistress, Ethel Laniv, disguising himself as a man and taking her with him. Inspector Dew, relentless in his pursuit, tracks Crippen across the Atlantic aboard the SS Montrose, racing against time and public spectacle. The episode builds tension through vivid scenes of Crippen’s paranoia, the captain’s growing suspicion, and the chaotic media frenzy that follows Dew’s journey. Ultimately, Dew arrives in Quebec City ahead of Crippen, only to face a mob of reporters and a Canadian police force that insists on taking over the arrest. In a climactic confrontation on the foggy morning of July 31, 1910, Dew confronts Crippen on the deck of the Montrose, arresting him in full view of the press and the world. The episode blends historical drama with modern storytelling, highlighting the birth of global media attention around a criminal case.