Melanie Stewart-Smith

Oct 21, 2023 | bbc.com | Anna Meisel |Melanie Stewart-Smith

Image caption, Executions at the Oklahoma Department of Corrections became more difficult after the supply of a drug used in lethal injections was cut offBy Anna Meisel & Melanie Stewart-SmithWhen the supply of drugs used for lethal injections began to run out, a couple of prison guards in the US had to go out and find another source. For over 20 years, Randy Workman was the man who walked people to their death.

Oct 2, 2023 | bbc.co.uk | Kate West |Melanie Stewart-Smith

Security guards - who safeguard public events - are fraudulently obtaining work licences after attending sham training courses, the BBC has found. An undercover reporter from File on 4 paid extra to complete a mandatory six-day course in a day and a half - missing crucial first-aid training. On one course he was told to fill in timesheets for all six days and given answers to multiple-choice questions. The industry regulator said the evidence suggested criminality.

Jul 24, 2023 | bbc.co.uk | Matt Pintus |Phil Marzouk |Datshiane Navanayagam |Melanie Stewart-Smith

The number of modern slavery cases reported within the UK care industry has more than doubled in the past year. There were 109 potential victims, exploited for personal or financial gain, between January and March - twice as many as the same period in 2022. BBC File on 4 obtained the figures from the government-approved anti-slavery helpline, run by charity Unseen. Investigators trying to protect workers from being exploited say the care industry is now a "top priority".

Jun 27, 2023 | news.nestia.com | Mark Lobel |Kate West |Melanie Stewart-Smith

Organ harvesting: Trafficked for his kidney and now forced into hiding BBC·2023-06-27 18:00 Image source, Getty Images By Mark Lobel, Kate West and Melanie Stewart-Smith File on 4 When a man who'd been sleeping rough walked into a police station near Heathrow Airport, it would lead to the UK's first prosecution of human trafficking for organ removal. The BBC has been given unprecedented access to the Metropolitan Police team that investigated this historic case.

Jun 6, 2023 | bbc.com | Vicky Carter |Melanie Stewart-Smith

Image caption, Mr Hall says he has seen fewer anti-social incidents since the swap shop openedBy Vicky Carter & Melanie Stewart-SmithIn 2022, Stewart Hall noticed anti-social behaviour outside the railway station where he works was getting out of hand. "I knew that it was plagued by kids... non-stop trouble and a lot of staff refused to work here," he says. Mr Hall's response was to do something to change things locally. So in April 2022, he and co-worker Darin Astbury opened a swap shop.