How We Investigate

Last reviewed: 25 September 2026

This page explains how an investigation on this site moves from a tip to a published article. It sits alongside our editorial standards.

1. Starting points

Investigations begin with a resident's tip, a council decision, a published dataset, or a pattern we notice in public records. A tip is a lead, not a fact.

2. Documents and public records

• We work from the original: minutes, decision notices, budgets, contracts, planning files, inspection reports and statutory registers.
• We record where each document came from and when we obtained it.
• We link to the document in the article where it is public, or describe it accurately where it is not.
• We check documents are genuine and current, and look for later versions that change the picture.

3. Freedom of Information requests

• Requests are worded neutrally and specifically. Our FOI tool is available to residents too.
• We report what the response says, including refusals, exemptions and delays.
• Where lawful, we publish or link to the response so readers can check our reading of it.
• We state the date range and any limits on the figures.

4. Data

We explain where the data comes from, what period it covers, and what it cannot tell us. We avoid drawing trends from small numbers, and compare like with like.

5. Interviews

• We tell people who we are and that we may publish what they say.
• Quotes are accurate. We do not change their meaning.
• Anonymity is granted only under the conditions in our standards, and explained in the article.
• We take particular care with vulnerable people, and do not identify children.

6. Corroboration and right of reply

Serious claims need a primary document or a second independent source. Anyone facing serious criticism is contacted before publication with a fair deadline to respond. We log who was contacted, when, and what they said.

7. Pre-publication checks

Before publication, each investigation is checked for: a primary source; corroboration where needed; careful allegation wording; legal, privacy and safeguarding risks; checked dates and figures; and a headline the evidence supports.

8. After publication

We follow up on outcomes, add responses that arrive late, and correct mistakes openly with a dated note. Articles are re-checked when facts may have changed.

Send us documents

If you hold documents in the public interest, get in touch. Please do not send material you are not entitled to share, and do not put yourself at risk.