RegionalReport.co.uk is operated by Regional Report Media Ltd., a private limited company registered in England and Wales (company number 17143892), with its registered office at 3 New Bailey Street, 5th Floor, Manchester M3 5FS, United Kingdom. The integrity of our news reporting depends on rigorous fact-checking and source verification, overseen by our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, Oliver Reeves, and the Editor-in-Chief, Margaret Ellison. This policy sets out what we verify, how we verify it, and our commitment to transparency in correcting errors.
What we verify
Our fact-checking process applies to all editorial content published on RegionalReport.co.uk, including news briefs, explainers, public-interest reporting, local business updates, council coverage, transport updates, cultural features, reviews, opinion pieces and regional analysis. We prioritise verification for stories with a significant public interest or potential for harm. Specifically, we verify:
- Council decisions and planning: All claims about local authority votes, planning committee outcomes, budget allocations, and policy changes are checked against official council minutes, press releases, and public records.
- Transport and infrastructure: Statements regarding road schemes, rail service changes, cycling routes, bus timetables, and public transport funding are sourced from official bodies such as local councils, transport authorities, and government departments.
- Public spending: Figures related to council budgets, central government grants, combined authority funding, and public procurement are cross-referenced with official financial documents, audited accounts, and Freedom of Information responses.
- Crime and public safety: Information on criminal incidents, police statistics, court outcomes, and emergency services is verified with official police statements, court records, or on-the-record comments from authorised spokespeople. Unsubstantiated claims are not published.
- Health and public services: Data from NHS trusts, local health boards, and public health agencies is checked against published reports and official briefings.
- Business and economy claims: Company performance data, employment figures, retail trends, and property market statements are sourced from Companies House, business spokespeople, or independent economic data where available.
- Legal disputes: Reporting on litigation, regulatory actions, or court proceedings is based on official court documents, legal filings, or statements from solicitors or litigants, clearly attributed.
- Stories involving minors: Any content mentioning individuals under 18 is subject to additional safeguards. We verify the accuracy of all details and apply strict editorial standards to protect privacy, in accordance with our Safeguarding Minors Policy.
Source hierarchy and verification process
We operate a clear source hierarchy that prioritises primary and authoritative sources. Our reporters and editors are expected to rely on the following, in order of preference:
- Council documents and public records: Official agendas, minutes, committee papers, and published reports from local authorities, combined authorities, devolved institutions, and government departments. These are treated as the most reliable sources for factual claims.
- Official statements: Press releases, briefings, and public remarks from elected officials, council officers, police forces, NHS trusts, and regulatory bodies.
- On-the-record interviews: Named sources who provide verifiable information. Anonymous sources are used only in exceptional circumstances, subject to approval by the Editor-in-Chief, and are disclosed to the Standards & Fact-Checking Lead for review.
- Third-party data: Reputable datasets, academic research, and independent analyses that can be independently corroborated. We always link to or cite original sources where possible.
Full details of our sourcing standards are available on our Sources & Standards page.
Handling rumours, speculation, and unverified claims
RegionalReport.co.uk does not present rumours, speculation, or unverified claims as fact. Where a story contains a claim that is widely reported but not yet confirmed by an authoritative source, we label it clearly — for example, using phrases such as „according to unverified reports“ or „local residents have suggested“. In such cases, the language of attribution is explicit, and the claim is not presented as established fact. Our editorial team, led by Oliver Reeves, reviews all sensitive articles to ensure this distinction is maintained.
Review of sensitive articles
Oliver Reeves, our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, personally reviews all articles that may have implications for individuals’ reputations, safety, or privacy, including stories involving minors, criminal allegations, legal disputes, and contentious public spending. Mr Reeves works with the newsdesk to ensure every factual assertion is backed by a verifiable source before publication. He also manages the corrections process, as detailed in our Corrections Policy.
How to raise fact-checking concerns
Readers who identify a potential factual error or wish to submit a claim for verification can contact our fact-checking team at factcheck@regionalreport.co.uk. All submissions are reviewed by the Standards & Fact-Checking Lead. We aim to respond within two working days and to issue a correction, clarification, or update as soon as an error is confirmed. For broader editorial concerns, use corrections@regionalreport.co.uk or follow our Complaints Procedure.
Our commitments
- We verify every factual claim against a primary, official, or verifiable source before publication.
- We clearly label rumours and unverified claims as such, never presenting them as established fact.
- We prioritise council documents, public records, and official statements as the most reliable sources.
- We review all sensitive articles involving minors, crime, legal disputes, and public spending through our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead.
- We correct errors promptly and transparently, with a dedicated fact-checking email address and a published corrections policy.