A curated selection of published journalism, original Freedom of Information work and substantial research. Every figure and publication listed here links to the original source.
01 · Published stories
Journalism & investigations
FOI investigationThe Guardian2022
Fewer than 1% of alleged illegal tree-felling cases resulted in conviction
The question
How often did reports of illegal tree felling actually lead to a successful prosecution?
The method
A Freedom of Information response from the Forestry Commission covering reported cases from 2012–13 to 2021–22, with fines and enforcement records checked for context.
The finding
Of 4,002 reports across the decade, 15 ended in a successful prosecution—a rate of 0.4%. The average fine among those convictions was £1,847.
The result
Published as an original environment investigation in The Guardian in November 2022.
Recorded crimes against waterfowl rose 59% in two years
The question
Were attacks on swans, ducks and geese isolated incidents—or part of a wider pattern?
The method
Police records from England and Wales were obtained under Freedom of Information laws and combined, with individual incident descriptions used to show what sat behind the total.
The finding
Police recorded 62 crimes from 2020 to 2022, with the annual count rising 59% across the period. The records included shootings, mutilations and deliberate drownings.
The result
Published as an original national investigation in The Guardian in June 2023.
Prejudice and Prohibition: smoking and vaping policies in NHS hospitals
The question
How did NHS trusts regulate smoking and vaping on hospital grounds—and how were those policies changing?
The method
A coordinated Freedom of Information study gathered policy data from NHS trusts in England, then compared acute and mental-health trusts and regional patterns.
The finding
The published study mapped policies across 170 responding trusts, including smoking bans, vaping rules, planned changes and methods of enforcement.
The result
Produced as a 67-page research report with methodology, findings, trust-level appendices and references.
Economic analysisInstitute of Economic Affairs2017
Obesity and the Public Purse
The question
What was the net—not merely gross—effect of obesity on UK government finances?
The method
The report constructed a counterfactual combining healthcare and welfare costs with taxes, pensions and other government payments associated with premature mortality.
The finding
It estimated a net annual fiscal cost of £2.47 billion in 2016 prices after accounting for £3.6 billion in avoided expenditure.
The result
Published as a full discussion paper. The publisher records subsequent coverage in the Daily Express and Metro.
Workforce & policy researchInstitute of Economic Affairs2020
Is There a Doctor in the House?
The question
How exposed was the NHS to a longer-term shortage of doctors after the pandemic?
The method
The research combined international physician comparisons, NHS vacancy and specialty data, demographic pressures and a review of workforce rules.
The finding
It identified the UK's relatively low physician density, reliance on overseas-trained doctors and pronounced gaps in specialties including emergency and respiratory medicine.
The result
Published as a long-form report and reported by The Independent at launch.
Counterfactual analysisInstitute of Economic Affairs2022
The Hangover: the cost of minimum alcohol pricing in Scotland
The question
What did minimum unit pricing cost consumers after its first four years?
The method
Co-authored analysis compared Scottish off-trade alcohol sales after implementation with a counterfactual based on England and Wales, using Public Health Scotland data.
The finding
The report estimated a net consumer cost of £270 million over four years, or £59.39 per adult.
The result
Published as a co-authored quantitative research paper in May 2022.
Public-data researchInstitute of Economic Affairs2024
Robin Hood in Reverse
The question
Was UK aid funding projects in regions richer than some parts of the UK?
The method
The work searched the government's Development Tracker and UK Research and Innovation records, then compared recipient regions with UK local economic data.
The finding
It identified aid-funded projects in relatively affluent regions of upper-middle-income countries and examined how the allocation rules treated regional inequality.
The result
Published as a research paper in August 2024 and covered by The Telegraph.
Publishers are identified on individual items as a factual record of publication. Inclusion does not imply that RecordSignal endorses any publisher's political or institutional position. Findings are described in the terms used by the underlying published work, with no invented claims of impact.
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