5 Live Investigates

By BBC Radio 5 LiveBusiness

5 Live Investigates episodes

January 08, 2012 Multi-Million Pound School I.T Scam
Adrian Goldberg investigates the schools over-paying by as much as ten times for equipment like photocopiers and laptops after being mis-sold leases. Following our investigation into problems with leasing agreements last year, we hear from one school facing bills for hundreds of thousands of pounds for equipment they were told they were getting for free. Plus we ask why Google continued to feature a sponsored ad for a website illegally offering Olympics tickets even after being warned by the police that it was a scam.
49 min
December 18, 2011 UK's Counterfeit Goods Capital
Manchester and Salford form the national warehousing and distribution centre for the UK counterfeit racket, according to trade standards officers. The industry says the enforcement agencies are struggling against the sophistication of some of the criminal gangs now involved in the fakes industry, and the Government says counterfeiting costs the UK economy £1.3 billion. Plus, we hear from motorists who've been landed with hefty bills after reporting they'd spilt oil on the road. One recieved an invoice for £1,000 which included a charge of more than £100 for a bag of sand!
36 min
December 11, 2011 Sinking of the Swanland
Over the past five years, port inspectors had identified 85 safety concerns with the cargo ship that sank off the Welsh coast with the loss of six crew. The programme also reveals the concerns raised by a former captain about the way that the Swanland was loaded. He feared it was putting undue strain on the hull. The ship sank in minutes after breaking apart in half in rough seas.
48 min
December 04, 2011 British-Pakistani Kidnap
The number of British Pakistanis kidnapped while visiting relatives in Pakistani has nearly trebled over the last four years. The official figures are small - going from 8 to 22 cases - but the police believe they represent only a partial picture. In many cases, families pay ransom demands to get loved ones released. One MEP says criminals are abducting people in the knowledge they are unlikely to be brought to justice.
Also - drugged up drivers. We ask why has the Home Office failed to hit its own deadline for introducing drug testing machines in police stations. With officials dragging their feet, camapigners say more people are likely to die at the hands of drivers who've got behind the wheel of a vehicle high on drugs.
51 min
November 27, 2011 Bogus Car Insurance Brokers
The latest fraud to hit the insurance industry - the ghost brokers who've sold bogus cover to 20,000 motorists. It's costing the industry hundreds of millions of pounds - and is set to grow. We investigate the latest criminal assault on the insurance sector.
Also, we reveal the rule preventing the Independent Police Complaints Commission from interviewing officers under investigation. And concerns that ship owners are cutting corners as the maritime industry struggles in the grip of the economic downturn.
49 min
November 20, 2011 Illegal Metal Scrapyards
More needs to be done to crackdown on illegal scrapyards, say industry leaders. They estimate up to 900 sites are operating unlawfully and some are used by criminals to launder metals stolen from the rail and electricity networks. Also, the developers holding a gun to the heads of local residents. And the parking campaigner who says the enforcement cameras in Westminster are unlawful - and has found support among the independent parking adjudicators.
48 min
November 13, 2011 Criminal Private Investigators
Adrian Goldberg presents cutting edge investigative journalism, as well as taking on listeners' campaigns and consumer issues.
48 min
November 06, 2011 Small Firms Caught by Fraudulent Leases
Adrian Goldberg investigates the leasing scams costing small businesses thousands of pounds.
And he asks why big banks are pursuing GPs and small traders even when the rogue companies which drew up their leasing deals have gone under, with their salesmen jailed for fraud.
If you have a story for the 5 live Investigates team, email [email protected].
49 min
October 30, 2011 Who watches the watchdogs?
As the Office of Fair Trading takes steps to close down a loan broker - seven years after the BBC started getting complaints about the company - Adrian Goldberg asks whether the watchdogs are doing enough to protect consumers.
The BBC has received more than 1,000 complaints about Yes Loans Ltd of Cwmbran, south Wales, since 2004.
The OFT will not say why it is now "minded to revoke" its licence. An independent OFT adjudicator will make the final decision, which is subject to appeal.
The company says it is committed to responding to the OFT's concerns and that the vast majority of its customers are happy with its service.
Plus, a new report says football clubs could be open to fraud and mis-management; Adrian hears more debate on public and private cord blood banks; and why a second-class stamp could sometimes be your first-class option.
If you have a story you would like the 5 live Investigates to look at, or if you would like to comment on your experience with loan companies, email [email protected]
50 min
October 23, 2011 Political Lobbying
Adrian Goldberg investigates the world of political lobbying.
Following the revelations about former Defence Secretary Liam Fox and his friend Adam Werritty, Adrian talks to insiders about how private companies strive to get influence in Westminster.
If you have a story you would like the team to investigate, email [email protected].
50 min