The Student Guardian

Paul Lashmar's Investigative Journalism Page

"This is the page for the informal sessions on investigative journalism run by Paul Lashmar for Journalism students during taught terms. It depends entirely on the interest and self motivation of students. If they express interest and prepared to do the work we invite high profile IJs, look at stories and encourage students to start on the path of investigation." Dr. Paul Lashmar,  Investigavive Journalist and Research Academic

Gang cleaned out 268 Lloyds Bank "Safety" Deposit Boxes netting £8 million

Find out whether the Hatton Garden ringleader also masterminded the Lloyds Bank job 44 years ago.  Dr Lashmar reveals what happened in a two page spread in today's Independent Newspaper and online.... 

"Reader’s gang cleaned out 268 safety deposit boxes at Lloyds Bank on 188 Baker Street in London in September 1971 and got away with more than £8m at 1971 values – a bigger take than the Great Train Robbery a few years before. But he was never arrested." Dr P Lashmar, Source: Independent

Britain's Biggest Bank Job | Was MI5 involved?

Dr. Paul Lashmar is lead interviewee in this fascinating Channel 5 documentary: Watch Now

Paris Attacks | French intelligence services scrutinised

“We have now become the Islamic State’s enemy number one,” Marc Trevidic, France’s outgoing examining magistrate in counter-terrorism cases, said shortly before the Paris attacks. “France is the principal target for an army of terrorists of unlimited means. Furthermore it’s also clear that we are particularly vulnerable because of our geographical position, for the ease of entrance on to our territory for jihadists of European origin.” Source: Jason Burke and Julian Borger, The Guardian

Theresa May, surveillance and the threat to privacy

"Reading through the draft investigatory powers bill on Wednesday evening, one name came to mind, that of Frederick Douglass. He was an African American former slave who became one of the most eloquent campaigners for the abolition of slavery and was the living refutation of plantation owners’ contention that their “property” lacked the intelligence to function as independent citizens..." Source: John Naughton, The Guardian

Netanyahu teams up former military intelligence leaders

The Israeli leader [Benjamin Netanyahu] has spoken out repeatedly against attempts by the United States and other Western countries to improve relations with Iran. Source: Joseph Fitsanakis | intelNews.org

Police try to recruit Cambridge student to inform

'Officer is filmed attempting to persuade activist in his 20s to become informant targeting 'student-union type stuff.' Cambridgeshire police said:"Officers use covert tactics to gather intelligence, in accordance with the law, to assist in the prevention and detection of criminal activity." Source: Rob Evans and Mustafa Khalili, The Gurardian.

US universities facing a barrage of cyber attacks

"America’s research universities, among the most open and robust centers of information exchange in the world, are increasingly coming under cyberattack, most of it thought to be from China..." Source: Richard Perez Pena, New York Times

NHS 'failing the deaf'

Non-existent support and medical care is damaging deaf children with additional needs futures

UK Government throw away 2bn on failed nuclear plant

'A controversial nuclear fuel plant that was closed down two years ago left taxpayers with a £2.2bn bill instead of turning a healthy profit, an government report has admitted.' Source: Brian Brady,Independent on Sunday

Photo Journalism | Behind the scenes

Ruben Salvadori was born in Italy in 1988. In 2008 he moved to Jerusalem where he graduated with a dual major in International Relations and Anthropology/Sociology. Ruben has used photography to fulfill his anthropological interest, working on visual studies across Asia, Europe, Middle East and America. His works have been published and presented internationally...

Heroes and Hacks

Eamonn O'Neill examines the nature of modern investigative journalism and the fate of the investigative press in a post-Leveson environment. Listen... BBC Radio 4 Saturday 11th May 8pm

US style school spy cams could come to Britain?

Face recognition security systems have been piloted in 10 UK schools already with on-site police officers commonplace

Newspaper bosses reject cross-party plans to regulate the press

The owners of the Sun, Times, Telegraph, Daily Mail, Mirror and Express newspapers reject the "stitch-up" put together by the three political parties. Source: Patrick Wintour and Lisa O'Carroll, Guardian

The path to hell | An investigative journalist’s view of Leveson

A personal message from Paul Lashmar: "I hold an overarching belief that quality journalism is crucial for democracy and that without serious investigative journalism corruption and incompetence will undermine every public institution. Indeed it is happening."

Bankers obfuscation? "All the better to fleece you with"

The power to create money out of thin air... By: Ann Pettifor "Modern finance is generally incomprehensible to ordinary men and women..... The level of comprehension of many bankers and regulators is not significantly higher. It was probably designed that way. Like the wolf in the fairy tale: “All the better to fleece you with.”

WARNING | Facebook could get you arrested

Social networking sites are helping police target crime before it happens. But is this ethical?