Dispatches Episode Guide

Episode Guide

• Absent

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• Al-Qaida UK

  Using undercover filming, secret intelligence reports and previously unseen propaganda tapes, Deborah Davies investigates how Britain has been used as a recruiting ground and a centre of finance for al-Qaida. New evidence allegedly links London-based cleric Abu Qatada to the September 11 hijackers and information excluded from a trial in Leicester, where two men were found guilty of funding terrorism, reveals one of the defendants may have been involved with a cell planning a major attack in Europe

• al-Qaida UK

  In-depth reports on sensitive topical issues

• America's Secret Shame

  Deborah Davies investigates how the Bush administration has allegedly attempted to suppress information surrounding the number of casualties in America's war in Iraq. The conflict has now cost the lives of more than 2,000 American troops and injured a further 30,000. With such substantial losses, the US government's bid to avoid a public relations disaster is examined

• Asylum

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• Barrack Room Bullies

  An investigation into claims of bullying in the British Army, a continuing problem despite recent efforts to address the situation. Reporter Andrew Gilligan interviews three ex-soldiers who allege they were systematically picked on by their trainers, uncovering accusations of physical assault and sexual humiliation

• Behzti

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• Beslan

  Full account of the September 2004 school siege in Beslan, Russia, which saw terrorists hold more than 1,000 people at gunpoint for three days. Three hundred people were killed at the climax of the stand-off, almost half of them children. The programme examines the bloodiest act of terrorism ever committed in the country, acknowledging the many questions about the event that remain unanswered

• The Big Heist

  Investigation into the December 2004 robbery of the Northern Bank in Belfast, which the British and Irish governments blamed on the Provisional IRA. The repercussions of the crime still threaten the peace process, as Kevin Toolis tries to unearth the truth - and find out what the culprits plan to do with the unrecovered cash

• Bin Laden's New Network

  Special in-depth report from the front line, exploring how the 10,000 soldiers of al-Qaida have survived the battle against terrorism, and are allegedly now regrouping for their next phase of the war with the West, proving that the threat of attack has yet to be eliminated. Part of the One Year On season

• Bin Laden's Plan of Terror

  In-depth report considering the war against global terrorism and contemplating what the next move will be from Osama bin Laden. The programme also looks at how his militant Al-Qaida network operates, and past attempts from the US to trace and capture America's public enemy number one. Part of War Without End? season

• The Blunkett Tapes

  PLEASE DO NOT SCHEDULE THIS SERIES, EACH OF THESE PROGRAMMES SHOULD BE A ONE-OFF WITH THE EPISODE IN THE TITLE

• Britain's Rubbish

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• Bullied to Death

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• Burma's Secret War

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• Cannabis

  An investigation onto the possible effects of legalising cannabis. David Blunkett's plans to downgrade the substance to a Class C drug are fuelling fears that the move could lead to a surge in demand, creating more opportunities for dealers to flourish. Zaiba Malik visits Amsterdam to report on the Dutch experience of lenient laws regarding the matter and an undercover reporter reveals more about the drug's associations in the underworld

• Caring

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• Chechnya: The Dirty War

  Reporters Mariusz Pilis and Marcin Mamon spend nine months in Chechnya to report on what life is like in one of the most dangerous places on Earth after more than a decade of struggle and Russian repression. The documentary reveals that what started as a separatist movement in 1994 has now become synonymous with terrorism

• Child Care

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• Children's Drugs

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• Civil Liberties

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• Coercion

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• The Colombian Connection

  Reporter Sandra Jordan investigates what three men with strong links to the IRA were doing in a Colombian no-go zone controlled by ruthless narco-terrorists Farc. She retraces their steps through some of the most dangerous areas in the world and in the process uncovers a shocking story of the IRA's involvement in the globalisation of terror

• Confessions of A Parking Attendant

  Investigation into the world of the traffic warden. Hidden cameras reveal the true extent of the abuse they are faced with on a day-to-day basis but also sheds some light on the strategies and tactics they employ to ensure suitable punishments are handed out to those who have violated parking regulations

• Congo's Killing Fields

  Reporter Sam Kiley ventures to a besieged town in the middle of the war-torn Congo and discovers the harsh realities of life in the republic with the highest wartime death toll since 1945. Despite international protests at the ongoing bloodshed, the area continues to be mired in violence, with rape, slaughter and even cannibalism common practices

• David Modell

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• The Dirty Meat Scandal

  Investigation into the meat trade, discovering some shocking threats to consumers. In the wake of BSE and foot-and-mouth, both the Government and the industry made promises that safety would be tightened up. However, undercover reporters discover that meat riddled with abscesses and diseases are still on the market, while an industry insider reveals his part in a fraud that is costing the taxpayer thousands

• The Dirty Tricks Election

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• The Drug Trial that Went Wrong

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• Duress

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• The Dyslexia Myth

  The documentary series investigates the theory that the common perception of dyslexia is flawed - making it a misunderstood condition that is being tackled in the wrong way. Drawing on research from the UK and America, the gulf between evidence and educational practice is examined, demonstrating that the number of youngsters with serious reading difficulties has barely changed despite costly investment in teaching

• Fit to Eat

  Report on whether tight NHS budgets and industrial production methods are responsible for depriving vulnerable patients of the nourishment they need. Secret filming in one of Britain's largest processing plants supplying cook-chill hospital meals reveals shocking lapses in basic hygiene, while experts expose the true nutritional value of the food some patients are eating

• For the Love of a Stranger

  The story of a man who donated part of his lung to a dying Israeli girl after reading about her serious condition in a newspaper. Cameras follow the recovery process after the operation and the anxious wait to see whether the child survived

• Gang Wars

  The largest ever survey of youth gangs in Britain, revealing the extent of the problem and the shocking levels of brutality children as young as 14 are prepared to use. Reporter Ishmahil Blagrove uncovers a culture of violence in six areas of the country, where vicious attacks on other teenagers are commonplace and young members are copying the criminal practice of adults, leading to a spiral of tit-for-tat incidents

• Gaza

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• Gordon Brown's Missing Billions

  Economist Andrew Dilnot examines Gordon Brown's record as Chancellor, revealing what he regards as critical mistakes that have cost the country dearly - and may cause greater problems in the future. Over the course of Brown's tenure in the position, Britain has gone from having a £20billion surplus to being £30billion in deficit and Dilnot identifies what he believes are key errors that caused this state of affairs

• Holy Offensive

  Report on the growing conflict between freedom of speech in art and respect for religion, examining the controversies surrounding the early closure of the play Behzti and the BBC's broadcast of Jerry Springer: The Opera. Featuring contributions from the directors, actors and writers behind these two divisive shows and representatives of the Christian and Sikh communities, as well as other faiths

• How to Beat Your Kids Asthma : Part One

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• How To Beat Your Kid's Asthma- Part Two

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• The Hurricane That Shamed America

  Investigation into the US Government's response to Hurricane Katrina. While scientists had predicted the disaster would occur, very few measures were in place to protect the populace, and the survival of the thousands living in New Orleans was dependent on makeshift relief efforts. Featuring first-hand accounts from those involved, and a look at how the disaster exposed divisions in American society

• Iran

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• Iraq: The Reckoning

  Peter Oborne examines the exit strategy from Iraq, and assesses what he believes the future holds. The programme features interviews with US troops serving in the country and political figures in both Britain and America, and argues that the situation has become the greatest foreign policy disaster since Munich. Oborne makes his case that coalition forces no longer serve any purpose in Iraq and that the prospect of a unified democratic society emerging grows slimmer by the day. Part of the Iraq: The Bloody Circus season

• Iraq: The Reckoning

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• Iraq's Missing Billions

  Journalist and doctor Ali Fadhil reports on what has happened to the $23billion entrusted to the British and American coalition to rebuild Iraq. In the US, a trail of potentially fraudulent activity has been uncovered, suggesting that the money apportioned for new schools, medical clinics and basic services in the war-torn country has not been put to its intended use

• Israel

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• Judges

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• Keep Them Out

  Film-maker David Modell investigates the Government's immigration policy from the perspective of residents in the quiet seaside community of Lee-on-the-Solent, who are fighting plans to build an accommodation centre for asylum seekers in their town. He also travels across Britain to see how the issue is affecting other people

• Kidnap and Torture American Style

  Andrew Gilligan investigates the stories of people who claim to have been kidnapped by US officials and sent to countries with poor human rights records to be incarcerated without trial. The programme questions whether Britain plays an active role in the process and considers the possible implications of the Government's proposed anti-terror measures

• Kidnap and Torture American Style

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• Law and Disorder

  Report on the state of modern policing. A camera crew follow day-to-day events in Sheffield over a six-week period, as a handful of officers struggle to meet Home Office targets. The film investigates why policemen and women are assigned duties which bear little relation to their crime-stopping role, including collecting a dead man's rent book and waiting by a burning vehicle for the arrival of the fire brigade

• Living with Aids

  Journalist Sorious Samura visits Zambia to report on Africa's battle with Aids. He spends a month working at a state-run hospital where most of the patients are HIV positive, and discovers the huge scale of the problem at first hand. He also discusses why the people must overcome the mammoth problems of poverty and ignorance, as well as reform the sexual attitudes of African men, to win the war against the disease

• Living with Refugees

  Award-winning film-maker Sorious Samura visits Sudan's border with Chad to investigate the plight of refugees from the war-torn region of Darfur. He finds them struggling to survive each day, walking miles over harsh terrain and subsisting on a meagre diet - and discovers that despite the efforts of the UN, little has changed for the people caught in the centre of the tragedy

• Londonistan

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• Me and My Coup

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• MMR: What They Didn't Tell You

  New series of reports on burning topical questions, beginning with an examination of the issues surrounding the controversial MMR vaccine, which was suspected in 1998 of being linked to cases of autism in children. The claims by Dr Andrew Wakefield prompted a worldwide health scare, with the press fuelling anxiety among parents - who were not told certain crucial facts about the research. Presented by Brian Deer

• Muslim Opinion

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• The New Fundamentalists

  Rod Liddle reports on the rise of Evangelical Christianity in the UK. He considers how this branch of the faith could provide a new lease of life to the Church of England, and asks whether the extreme beliefs of some members - who denounce homosexuality, preach creationism and insist on a literal interpretation of the Bible - may cause controversy in Britain's liberal secular society

• The NHS - Your Money or Your Life?

  Andrew Dilnot presents an in-depth report on the inner workings of the NHS, examining how the service is funded and arguing that privatisation is the only viable solution to the organisation's problems

• On Pain of Death

  Laurie Taylor investigates the provision of pain relief in NHS hospitals, revealing that many doctors are reluctant to use morphine, and lack training in its use. The programme tells the stories of people who have lost relatives, discovering that those who die in hospital often do so slowly, without access to a palliative care team. In some cases, families have been forced to turn to the black market to obtain drugs the health service was unable to provide

• Profiting from Kids in Care

  Investigation into the privatisation of residential children's homes, revealing how much their owners can charge social services, including enormous mark-ups for certain types of treatment - even though many of them are allegedly failing to provide basic standards of care

• Re-Opening the Post

  Update on working conditions inside the Royal Mail, where undercover journalists spent five months noting untrained staff, dumped post, worn-out machinery, ineffective management and poor industrial relations. Chairman Adam Crozier subsequently announced sweeping changes, and the organisation recently declared record profits, saying it was providing its best service for a decade

• Rehabilitation

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• Right to Offend

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• Russian Doll

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• Ryanair: Caught Napping

  An investigation into the running of low-cost airline Ryanair, recorded over five months by two undercover reporters. While working as members of the cabin crew, they secretly filmed their experiences on board the planes, revealing potential security lapses, hygiene issues and tired stewards

• Secrets of the Shoplifters

  Deborah Davies finds out about the activities of Britain's shoplifters, who cost retailers and consumers billions every year. She meets a seasoned thief who demonstrates how easy it is to take items from crowded shops, investigates the gangs who can steal £6,000 of goods in a single attempt, and discovers some of the more bizarre objects stolen from stores - before asking whether the thieves are entirely to blame

• Sex on the Street

  Report revealing that prostitutes are the most physically brutalised group within society : and the least protected. Guardian journalist Maggie O'Kane's research covering the past 10 years revealed more than 60 women have been murdered, and over half of those interviewed had been raped or seriously beaten : largely because men realise they are easy targets. This documentary highlights how existing legislation forces those women to work in vulnerable conditions

• Speed Cameras

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• Spiked

  Maggie O'Kane presents an investigation into the growing danger of drug rape, revealing the extent of the problem, the groups most at risk and what can be done to prevent it. Women who claim to have been attacked in this manner tell their stories, while hidden cameras are used to record a convicted rapist spiking a woman's drink

• Spinning Terror

  Peter Oborne presents a report on the Government's reaction to the July 7 terrorist bombings. He suggests that the desire to push through anti-terror laws is the result of an attempt to appear strong and gain a potential electoral advantage. He also discusses the possible impact the new policies could have on British security, and whether the public's faith in their leaders is misplaced

• State of Terror

  Reporter Deborah Davies investigates the aftermath of the Israeli Army's dogged military campaign against Palestinian fighters operating in the West Bank refugee camp of Jenin. Amid the devastation, she examines eyewitness accounts of civilians caught up in the conflict, and hears Amnesty International pathologist Professor Derrick Pounder's claims concerning disturbing evidence about bodies unearthed near the town's hospitals

• Stealing Your Freedom

  Political commentator Peter Hitchens explores how recent changes in Britain's security legislation have had an impact on the civil liberties of ordinary people. He argues the policies that have been introduced could be turning the country into a 'Big Brother'-style state, and meets members of the public who have been personally affected by new laws and increased police powers

• Supermarket Secrets - Part One

  Part one of two. Jane Moore presents a behind-the-scenes insight into the production of cheap and convenient food found on supermarket shelves, in a bid to see if it really is as good as it looks and presents value for money

• Supermarket Secrets - Part Two

  Part two of two. Jane Moore continues her investigation into the food sold by large retailers and the unsavoury factors which allegedly keep the industry running. In her report, she highlights how cows are being forced to produce eight times as much milk as 50 years ago, and compares the quality of 'fresh' fruit to that found in jars of baby food, ultimately revealing that not every item on the supermarket shelves contains exactly what it says on the tin

• Swoopers

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• Third Class Post

  Reporter Simon Barnes's six-month investigation exposing alleged incidents of laziness, ineptitude and theft within the Royal Mail. Covert cameras capture everything from untrained posties sent out to deliver to addresses they have no hope of finding to criminals systematically targeting credit cards, chequebooks and passports sent through the post

• Too Much Too Young

  Comparing British early year practice with the Kindergarten model in Germany, Switzerland, Hungary and Flemish Belgium, countries that have traditionally enjoyed excellent educational outcomes

• Treasury

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• Trouble at the Mosque

  Documentary investigating allegations that a lack of proper controls is allowing financial, physical and even sexual abuse to take place within Britain's mosques. Over a year in the making, this programme exposes how worshippers' generosity can be exploited by religious leaders and how extreme groups can assume control of a community. Part of the Muslim and British season

• The Truth About Health Spending

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• Tsunami Special

  Jon Snow chairs a debate on the Government's foreign policy in the wake of the recent disaster, questioning whether enough is being done to deal with the problems of poverty, disease and starvation and examining whether the billions spent on the occupation of Iraq could be better spent improving quality of life in impoverished nations. With contributions from former International Development Minister Clare Short and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, appearing on behalf of pressure group Free Trade

• Undercover Angels

  Two experienced nursing assistants act as undercover reporters, using hidden cameras to examine the standards of care provided for elderly patients in two busy NHS hospitals over the course of three months. Their investigation reveals scenes of poor treatment, as basic hygiene rules are disregarded and patients apparently neglected

• Undercover in the Secret State

  Award-winning film-maker Kim Jung-eun gives an insight into the day-to-day hardships faced by citizens of North Korea, which are alleged to include acute food shortages and human rights violations. She meets dissidents fleeing the regime who have been attempting to film public executions and concentration camps in an effort to expose the harsh realities of life under Kim Jong-il

• Undercover Teacher

  Reporter Alex Dolan goes undercover as a secondary school teacher in an attempt to find out how the education system could be failing Britain's children. Problem areas are highlighted as pupils rage out of control, while staff manipulate regulations to pass Ofsted inspections and improve exam results

• What's Really in Your Christmas Dinner

  Documentary analysing Christmas dinner in light of people's apparent lack of dietary vigilance during the festive season. At a time when the British public have never been more concerned about the food on their plates, Jane Moore examines the cost, nutritional values and processing methods of the belt-busting yuletide extravaganza

• Why Bomb London

  An insight into the reasons behind the recent London bombings, investigating whether social and political decisions made by the Government could have made the attacks more likely. During the 1990s, known extremists and terrorists were allowed to settle in London, where they took advantage of the country's civil rights tolerance to plan terror attacks abroad. Part of the New World War season

• Women Bishops

  Cristina Odone examines the debate over the ordination of female bishops in the Church of England, talking to various factions on both sides of the argument and considering the contradictions in her own position as both a devout Catholic and a feminist. She discusses the issue with a female vicar, who points out similarities between the current arguments and those surrounding the inclusion of black people into the Church, and hears the story of a self-declared woman bishop who is already ordaining priests. The programme also considers the possible ramifications of either outcome

• Young, Angry and Muslim

  British Pakistani Muslim Navid Akhtar explores the deep-rooted tensions and alienation within his community in the wake of the London bombings. Torn between a modern British identity and the culture he was raised in, Navid provides an insight into the rise of Islamic extremism

• Young Men

  In-depth reports on burning topical issues

• Zarmina : Lifting the Veil

  The team return to Afghanistan to follow up on the award-winning documentary Beneath the Veil, with an explanation of the story behind the shocking image of a woman being executed in the middle of a football pitch seen in the earlier film. Tracking down her family, they soon uncover evidence that the change of regime has done little for the plight of women in the country