DISPATCHES: Child Runaways
Channel 4
An investigation into the shocking numbers of child runaways in the UK and the dangers they face on the streets. The programme reveals that many repeat runaways are fleeing from physical and sexual abuse in the home. Yet, when found by the police, they are frequently returned to abusive parents with no questions asked and no follow up by social workers. The programme highlights the national shortage of safe emergency accommodation and includes interviews with children who've run away, including a 15 year old boy who slept in a graveyard and a sixteen year old girl who came to London with a friend. Both girls were lured to a park and one of them was raped less than 24 hours after arrival.
Reporter: Joe Layburn
DISPATCHES: Forced To See Dad
Channel 4
An investigation into the failure of the courts to protect children from violent fathers following parental separation. A national survey of women and children who’d suffered domestic violence – in co-operation with the charity Women’s Aid – revealed that children continued to be harmed physically, sexually and emotionally on court-ordered access visits. Several children forced by the courts to visit their violent fathers speak out about the harm they've suffered.
Reporter: Deborah Davies
DISPATCHES: Battered Men
Channel 4 - A First Frame TV/Platinum TV co production
The first UK documentary to highlight the plight of men who suffer domestic violence at the hands of female partners. It reveals the findings of a specially conducted survey of over 100 male victims, most of whom were too ashamed even to confide in close friends. Men who did report to the police said their complaints weren't taken seriously, with very few female perpetrators arrested. The programme includes interviews with two women who admit using serious violence against their partners - and fooling the police.
Reporter: Deborah Davies
DISPATCHES: Men Behaving Badly – Part 1
Channel 4
First of a major two-part Dispatches investigation into the systemic failure by Police, CPS and courts to protect women from domestic violence. Two women are killed every week by their partners. The programme includes a specially conducted survey of 400 women who'd suffered serious domestic violence. This reveals that it is fear - not love - that prevents most women from leaving violent men. Several women speak out about failures by the police to arrest and detain perpetrators - sometimes with devastating consequences.
Reporter: Deborah Davies
DISPATCHES: Men Behaving Badly – Part 2
Channel 4
The second in this two-part investigation reveals the failures of magistrates, judges and the courts to protect women who've suffered serious domestic violence. An analysis of all domestic violence reports to police in one Metropolitan area reveals that, if convicted, the vast majority of men receive small fines or conditional discharges - leaving them free to reoffend. Several women speak out about the injustices they feel they've suffered and their fears of being killed.
Reporter: Deborah Davies
DISPATCHES: Til Death Us Do Part
Channel 4
A one-hour documentary - part of Channel 4's "Battered Britain": season. Researchers attended every homicide trial in Britain over a three month period. The investigation reveals that men who kill their wives are far more likely to be convicted of manslaughter than murder. They also receive far lower sentences than men who kill strangers - even when there is a long, background history of domestic violence. Family members speak out about the injustices.
Reporter: Deborah Davies
Criminal Injustice
A First Frame TV/Laurel TV co-production for BBC2
A one-hour documentary, authored by Charles Pollard, Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police. He argues that the rules of evidence in criminal cases are skewed too much towards defendants – resulting in a disproportionate number of wrongful acquittals, particularly in rape and child sex abuse cases. Pollard argues for a move towards a more inquisitorial system of justice.
The Million Pound Burglar
Channel 4
A one hour, semi-observational documentary, following the attempts by Chief Superintendent Caroline Nicholl, area commander for Milton Keynes, to significantly reduce crime by focusing more resources on prevention rather than detection. The programme reveals that one burglar alone is responsible for more than £1 million pounds worth of burglaries and that 40% of the car theft in the town is taking place in a single car park in the city centre, near a shopping mall.
DISPATCHES: Male Rape
A First Frame TV/Platinum TV co-production for Channel 4
A television first. A six-month long investigation into the taboo subject of men who've been raped by other men highlights the results of the largest ever survey of male rape victims, including rugby players and soldiers. It reveals the surprising finding that the majority of perpetrators are heterosexual males - male rape is about power, not sex. Like female rape victims, most men freeze and do not fight back, which makes most too ashamed to report to the police. Some who do report find the police unsympathetic. One man says he overheard the police laughing.
Reporter: Deborah Davies
DISPATCHES: Getting Away With Rape
Channel 4
This year-long investigation into serial rapists who get away with rape won a Royal Television Society award. Programme researchers attend every rape trial at the Old Bailey over a four month period and also conduct a survey of over 150 women who'd been raped. The programme uncovers several serial rapists, including one man, Nicholas Webb Edwards, who's been acquitted on five previous occasions. The programme includes drama reconstructions based on the original court transcripts - showing how it is frequently the victim, and not the defendant who is on trial. Multiple victims of serial rapists speak out face to camera for the first time to expose the injustices and demand a change in the law.
Reporter: Jenny Cuffe
DISPATCHES: The Most Neglected Crime
Channel 4
An investigation into the problem of obscene phone calls and the traumatic effect on many victims. The programme features two pieces of original research: a national representative survey and a telephone survey of over 100 obscene callers on their modus operandi. The programme reveals some very shocking findings. An estimated 15 million Britons receive obscene calls each year, making it the biggest single crime, with the majority of victims considering it a serious offence. Yet when they report, only a tiny minority of complaints are ever investigated. Most aren't even recorded. As a result of this programme, the police changed their policy and British Telecom set up the first specialist Nuisance Call bureaux.
Reporter: Susan Marling