Blog – Words + Numbers

The shoddy state of Cardiff's cracked and dirty city centre pavements

The council says work is done every day to improve them

WalesOnline

Niche tram #FOI (but may work for other publicly owned transport systems)

In Oct to Mar, there were 469,370 incomplete Metrolink journeys (where passengers didn't tap out), costing passengers £4.60 each time – even if they have reached the daily cap.

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/it-head-in-metrolink-passengers-27077275

This week's #FOIFriday: https://clairemiller.net/blog/2023/06/freedom-of-information-in-the-news-week-ending-16-6-2023-foifriday/

#journalism #FreedomOfInformation #JournalismTips #InvestigativeJournalism

‘It does my head in’: The Metrolink passengers fined for not tapping out

Nearly half a million passengers were caught out in six months alone

Manchester Evening News

A total of 3,044 Kent children were being home educated in April 2022, compared with 1,997 in 2018, according to #FOI.

Council officials say the reasons behind the rise include mental health problems, bullying and parents' dissatisfaction with schools.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-65858064

This week's #FOIFriday: https://clairemiller.net/blog/2023/06/freedom-of-information-in-the-news-week-ending-16-6-2023-foifriday/

#journalism #FreedomOfInformation #JournalismTips #InvestigativeJournalism

Kent: Sharp rise seen in home educated children

Figures obtained by the BBC show there is a 50% rise in Kent pupils home educating in five years.

BBC News

Between January 2020 and May 2023, there have been at least 35 reported thefts of hospital equipment, drugs, and patients’ possessions across hospital sites run by the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/crime/the-trust-that-runs-scarborough-hospital-has-reported-dozens-of-thefts-of-staff-and-patient-property-across-sites-4172488

This week's #FOIFriday: https://clairemiller.net/blog/2023/06/freedom-of-information-in-the-news-week-ending-16-6-2023-foifriday/

#journalism #FreedomOfInformation #JournalismTips #InvestigativeJournalism

The Trust that runs Scarborough Hospital has reported dozens of thefts of staff and patient property across sites

There have been dozens of thefts of equipment and personal items from the NHS Trust that runs Scarborough Hospital since 2020.

Yorkshire Post

Another angle on the cost of living crisis - how many public sector workers are ditching pension contributions, potentially as a way of saving money.

#FOI shows number opting out of Teachers’ Pension Scheme has risen by over two-thirds in the past year.

https://www.ftadviser.com/pensions/2023/06/07/number-of-teachers-opting-out-of-pension-rises-by-two-thirds/?saveConsentPreferences=success

This week's #FOIFriday: https://clairemiller.net/blog/2023/06/freedom-of-information-in-the-news-week-ending-16-6-2023-foifriday/

#journalism #FreedomOfInformation #JournalismTips #InvestigativeJournalism

Number of teachers opting out of pension rises by two thirds

The number of individuals opting out of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme has risen by more than two-thirds over the past year.

The number of prisoners in Scotland who have been placed on suicide watch has increased by 28% since 2007, #FOI figures show.

The number of prisoners at risk of suicide or self-harm has fluctuated in the past 16 years, peaking at 3,217 in 2021.

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/number-scottish-prisoners-suicide-watch-has-increased-28-cent-2007

This week's #FOIFriday: https://clairemiller.net/blog/2023/06/freedom-of-information-in-the-news-week-ending-16-6-2023-foifriday/

#journalism #FreedomOfInformation #JournalismTips #InvestigativeJournalism

Number of prisoners in Scotland on suicide watch up 28% since 2007

Morning Star

The number of homeless families from Enfield living in bed and breakfast accommodation beyond the government’s legal limit of six weeks has risen exponentially in the last year, #FOI shows.

At the end of March 2023, it was 113 up from one in April 2022.

https://enfielddispatch.co.uk/huge-scale-of-enfields-homelessness-crisis-revealed/

This week's #FOIFriday: https://clairemiller.net/blog/2023/06/freedom-of-information-in-the-news-week-ending-16-6-2023-foifriday/

#journalism #FreedomOfInformation #JournalismTips #InvestigativeJournalism

Huge scale of Enfield's homelessness crisis revealed

New FOI data shows the number of local families forced to live in B&Bs beyond the government's legal limit has spiraled over last six months

Enfield Dispatch

#FOI shows recorded incidents of sexual misconduct against Welsh ambulance staff have risen each year for the past five years.

Almost two in every three physical attacks reported by staff were sexual.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-65825772

This week's #FOIFriday: https://clairemiller.net/blog/2023/06/freedom-of-information-in-the-news-week-ending-16-6-2023-foifriday/

#journalism #FreedomOfInformation #JournalismTips #InvestigativeJournalism

Welsh ambulance worker abused by patient felt 'ashamed'

Incidents of sexual misconduct against Welsh ambulance staff have risen for the past five years.

BBC News

#FOI shows over the past five years more than 300 officers have been reported for rape and 500 for sexual assault. Only ten of those accused of sexual assault have been convicted. The vast majority – 350 – are still working for the police.

https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2023-06-15/one-police-officer-accused-of-rape-every-week

This week's #FOIFriday: https://clairemiller.net/blog/2023/06/freedom-of-information-in-the-news-week-ending-16-6-2023-foifriday/

#journalism #FreedomOfInformation #JournalismTips #InvestigativeJournalism

One police officer accused of rape every week

Over the past five years more than 300 officers have been reported for rape and 500 for sexual assault, TBIJ can reveal

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism