Research Methodology

Source Hierarchy

We apply a strict hierarchy of evidence when compiling our research:

1. Official inquiries and reports — Independent inquiries commissioned by government (e.g. Jay Report 2014, Casey Audit 2025, IICSA reports).
2. Court records and sentencing remarks — Publicly available court documents from Crown Court proceedings.
3. Government statistics — ONS data, Home Office publications, and police force statistics.
4. Academic research — Peer-reviewed papers published in recognised journals.
5. Established media reporting — Reporting from outlets with editorial standards and corrections policies (BBC, The Times, The Guardian, etc.).

Verification Process

All information goes through a structured verification process:

1. Claim identification — The specific claim being examined is isolated and stated clearly.
2. Source tracing — We trace the claim back to its original source.
3. Cross-referencing — The claim is checked against multiple independent sources.
4. Methodological review — For statistical claims, the methodology of the underlying research is examined for validity.

Data Handling

Numerical data is presented with its original source clearly cited. Where estimates vary between sources, we present ranges and explain the basis for each figure. We do not aggregate statistics from different methodologies without noting the limitations of doing so.

Content Sensitivity

We handle sensitive material with care. Articles containing descriptions of abuse, violence, or distressing content carry content warnings. We do not publish identifying details of victims under any circumstances.