A South London council has been forced to conduct internal investigations after a series of estate contracts went £7 million over budget.

My investigation revealed the eye-watering amounts overspent on repair works that residents claimed were a "shambles".

The story led to a leadership challenge within Southwark Council and the possibility of "fraud investigations" remain. 

BBC Local Democracy Reporting Service and the Telegraph both picked up the story.

The first report
Southwark Council commissions investigation
Third council estate alleges failings
Explainer: What went wrong?
Leadership challenge
Fourth council estate sounds the alarm

Phone-snatchers in Southwark have a 0.3% chance of facing justice, my investigation revealed.

A three-part series assessed the causes, solutions and shocking, on-the-ground reality of street level phone theft.

First-hand accounts included a pregnant woman being targeted and criminals videoing their victims as 'trophies'. 

0.3% chance of justice
Victims' accounts
Causes and solutions

Hundreds of homeowners face financial ruin over heating bills sky-rocketing up to £4,500 per year.

My exclusive reporting led to an internal investigation into the efficiency of Southwark's communal heating systems. 

This story was picked up by the BBC and the Telegraph. It was also the main news item on the 6.30 BBC London news on 24 October, 2024. 

The first report
Cost to taxpayer
More residents share their experiences
Minister for Energy Consumers steps in
Editorial piece

Months of enquiries finally forced Southwark Council to admit that sixteen primary schools were in a budget deficit, facing closures and mergers.

A source had told me local primary schools were in dire financial straits. But when we put this to the council, it initially refused to respond. 

In June 2022, Southwark Council gave me exclusive access to a briefing paper, and correspondence with the UK Education Minister, revealing the depth of the crisis.

My reporting received plaudits in a Guardian opinion piece. 

16 school face financial crisis
Parents' reactions
Council's plan of action

Hundreds of potentially life-saving bleed control cabinets across London risk going unused.

Councils, the Mayor’s Office and businesses have spent hundreds of thousands on publicly-placed medical boxes designed to treat victims of rapid blood loss.

But campaigners say it is “unclear” whether London Ambulance Service and the Mayor’s Office (LAS) are truly committed to the scheme

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In-depth piece

Southwark Council considered buying up Europe's biggest council estate.

Correspondence obtained via freedom of information requests revealed the Labour council explored buying 2,000 homes on the Aylesbury Estate redevelopment.

Campaigners have warned the failed purchase shows that Notting Hill Genesis, the estate's private developer, is struggling to build the homes it promised. 

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