How we check our information

Each case starts from the audit report itself wherever it is public. We then record what happened next, in the same order on every page: the official response from the audited body and any contractor, what parliament did, follow-up audits and how many recommendations were carried out, court, tribunal and investigation outcomes, and where the case stands now.

Sources, in order of preference: audit reports and management letters, parliament and public accounts committee records, court and arbitration records, official government statements, company statements (labelled as such), then established news outlets with named reporters. We do not use blogs, forums, social media or anonymous dossier sites.

We cover every sector, country and contractor on the same structure. We record findings that went against an agency or company and findings in their favour alike. When sources disagree, we show both with their dates. When we cannot find a public record for a stage, we say so.

Every page shows the date we last checked it. Found a mistake or a newer record? Email [email protected] with a link and we will check it.