At DailyCity.co.uk, we take factual accuracy seriously. Our readers rely on us for trustworthy information about how local government decisions, transport changes, business developments and cultural events affect their lives. Every piece of content we publish is subject to a rigorous verification process, overseen by our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, Thomas Ellery (thomas.ellery@dailycity.co.uk, +44 20 4587 8246). This policy sets out exactly what we check before publication and how we do it.
What we verify before publication
Our fact-checking process covers a wide range of claims and information types, including but not limited to:
- Council decisions and planning applications — we verify meeting minutes, voting records, planning officer reports and public consultation outcomes against official council documents.
- Transport disruption — we cross-reference service changes, closures and delays with Transport for London, National Rail and local transport authority updates.
- Public spending — we check budget allocations, contract awards and spending figures against published council accounts, government transparency data and official statements.
- Crime and safety — we rely on police statements, official crime statistics and court records, and we never sensationalise incidents.
- Health information — we verify claims against NHS guidance, Public Health England data and peer-reviewed research, and we clearly distinguish between official advice and expert opinion.
- Education claims — we check school performance data, Ofsted reports and local authority statements before reporting on school closures, mergers or results.
- Business closures or openings — we confirm with company statements, direct interviews with owners or managers, and official Companies House records where applicable.
- Property and housing claims — we verify development plans, rental and sale price data against Land Registry records, planning applications and estate agent statements.
- Legal disputes — we rely on court documents, official legal filings and statements from solicitors or legal representatives.
- Allegations — we never publish unsubstantiated claims. Any allegation is rigorously checked with multiple sources, and we seek comment from all parties involved before publication.
- Public figures — we verify biographical details, quotes and claims against public records, official biographies and direct interviews.
- Stories involving minors — we apply extra scrutiny to protect privacy and safety, and we never identify minors without clear editorial justification and parental or guardian consent.
- Privacy and safety concerns — we assess whether any information could cause harm, and we err on the side of caution when reporting on sensitive personal matters.
Source hierarchy
We operate a clear hierarchy of sources, prioritising the most reliable and verifiable information. Our preferred sources, in order of reliability, are:
- Official council documents, public records and planning applications
- Transport authority updates (TfL, National Rail, local transport bodies)
- Police statements and official crime statistics
- NHS information and government health data
- Local business statements and company statements (including Companies House filings)
- Court documents and official legal filings
- Direct interviews with named, on-the-record sources
- Public meetings (recorded or attended by our reporters)
- Verified public social media posts from official accounts or named individuals
- First-hand reporting and venue visits by our journalists
We link directly to source material wherever possible. For a full breakdown of our sourcing standards, see our Sources & Standards page.
Rumours and speculation
Rumours and speculation are always clearly labelled as such and are never presented as fact. If we report on an unconfirmed rumour — for example, a potential business closure or a proposed planning change — we explicitly state that the information is unconfirmed, explain why it is newsworthy, and provide context about what we have and have not verified.
Anonymous sourcing
We avoid anonymous sourcing wherever possible. If we do use an anonymous source, it is only with a clear editorial reason — such as protecting a whistleblower or a vulnerable individual — and after responsible verification by the Standards & Fact-Checking Lead. The source’s identity is known to at least one senior editor, and we assess their credibility and potential motives before publication.
Review of sensitive articles
All articles that involve allegations, legal disputes, public figures, minors, privacy concerns or potentially harmful information are reviewed by Thomas Ellery before publication. This review includes a final check of all sources, quotes and factual claims, as well as an assessment of potential legal or ethical risks.
Reader reports and corrections
We encourage readers to report any factual errors or concerns to factcheck@dailycity.co.uk. Every report is reviewed by the Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, and if a correction is required, we follow our Corrections Policy to update the article promptly and transparently.
For more detail on our editorial approach, see our Editorial Policy and meet the team on our Our Team page.