Linda Geddes
New Scientist

The truth about DNA

DNA is considered the gold standard in forensic science; and recent reports highlighting some of the failings in other forensic disciplines, such as fingerprints and bite-mark analysis, have only confirmed DNA analysis as the way forensic science should be practised.

Mock trials show that jurors are more likely to convict when presented with DNA evidence than with other kinds of evidence. And DNA profiling is generally viewed as objective, reliable and scientific. But is it infallible? And if not, could the growing reliance on DNA analysis trigger the same sort of miscarriages of justice that have clouded the reputations of other forensic disciplines?

Linda Geddes has investigated whether the interpretation of DNA profiles is truly objective, or whether subjectivity and bias could be an issue in certain cases. Although the potential for subjectivity in DNA analysis has been raised by defence lawyers and several prominent academics in recent years, this is the first attempt to actually quantify it in any formal way.

By demonstrating that DNA interpretation is subjective, she has shown that the difference between prison and freedom could rest on the opinions of a single individual. Her investigation has profound implications for criminal justice worldwide.

Back to Paul Foot 2011 »

Tristan Kirk (right), winner of the Paul Foot Award for Investigative and Campaigning Journalism 2024, with Private Eye editor Ian Hislop.

The Evening Standard’s Tristan Kirk’s winning investigation illustrated how the "single justice procedure" makes justice impossible for people without the means or wherewithal to challenge the system, creating a conveyor belt system that has removed humanity and fairness from the law.

The award was set up twenty years ago in memory of renowned journalist Paul Foot who died in 2004, and recognises the UK’s most brilliant, talented and determined journalists working in the fields of investigative and campaigning journalism.

The 2024 awards ceremony was hosted in-person at BAFTA by Private Eye Editor Ian Hislop, who said: "Justice is NOT being done but thanks to Tristan Kirk it is being seen NOT to be done!"

Pádraig Reidy, Chair of Judges, The Private Eye Paul Foot Award, said: "With a record number of entries in this year’s Paul Foot Award, choosing a shortlist and a winner was an immense challenge. The judging panel was pleased to reward journalism in the very best tradition of Paul Foot’s work - compelling stories that revealed systemic exploitation, abuse and injustice."

A piece on the winner will run in print issue 1626 of Private Eye, out Wednesday 19th June.

Interviews with the winner and the entire shortlist are available to listen to on the Private Eye Page 94 podcast.

The 2024 Shortlist

The Shortlist nominees for the Paul Foot Award 2024 with Private Eye editor Ian Hislop

Antonia Cundy, Madison Marriage, Paul Caruana Galizia
FT/Tortoise
Investigation into Crispin Odey
Cundy, Marriage and Caruana Galizia told the story of alleged sexual abuse and bullying by Crispin Odey, for decades a larger-than-life character in the finance world.

Tristan Kirk
Evening Standard
Single justice procedure: conveyor belt justice
Kirk's reporting illustrated how the "single justice procedure" makes justice impossible for people without the means or wherewithal to challenge the system, creating a conveyor belt system that has removed humanity and fairness from the law.

Anthony Lane, Humberto J Rocha
OPIS
Stopping carbon windfalls for big polluters closing plants
The OPIS (Oil Price Information Service) team exposed how carbon windfall credits paid out by the British and EU governments resulted in big polluters making millions by cutting jobs and closing plants.

Lewis McBlane
The Northern Scot
A96 dualling: a Moray cover-up
McBlane revealed how plans for the development of the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness, dubbed the most unpopular road in Scotland, were quietly dropped by the SNP government.

Justine Smith
The House magazine
CAMHS in crisis
Smith's FoI-led investigation was a compelling and important read, putting the plight of vulnerable children right in front of MPs in parliament's trade magazine. The findings were reported across national media.

Rebecca Thomas
The Independent
Failures in the UK mental health system
Campaigning journalism exposing the failures in the UK mental health system, which focused on telling the stories in suffering patients' own words.

This year’s judging panel, chaired by Pádraig Reidy, Little Atoms, comprised Julia Langdon, Political Journalist and Broadcaster; Sir Simon Jenkins, The Guardian; Helen Lewis, The Atlantic; Francis Wheen, Private Eye; Matt Foot, criminal defence solicitor; Kim Sengupta, The Independent; Janine Gibson, Financial Times; and David Conn, The Guardian and winner of the 2023 Paul Foot Award.

Tristan Kirk joins a distinguished list of journalists to have received the Paul Foot Award since it was established twenty years ago, including:

2023: David Conn, The Guardian
2022: David Collins & Hannah Al-Othman, The Sunday Times
2021: Robert Smith, Financial Times
2020: Alexandra Heal, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism/Various Outlets
2019: Emily Dugan, Buzzfeed
2018: Amelia Gentleman, The Guardian
2017: Emma Youle, Hackney Gazette
2014: Heidi Blake & Jonathan Calvert (The Sunday Times) and Andrew Bousfield & Richard Brooks (Private Eye)
2013: David Cohen, Evening Standard
2012: Andrew Norfolk, The Times
2011: Nick Davies, The Guardian
2010: Clare Sambrook, End Child Detention Now campaign, Various Outlets
2009: Ian Cobain, The Guardian
2008: Richard Brooks (Private Eye) and Camilla Cavendish (The Times )
2007: Rob Evans & David Leigh (The Guardian) & Deborah Wain (Doncaster Free Press)
2006: David Harrison, The Sunday Telegraph
2005: John Sweeney, Daily Mail

The Paul Foot Award was set up in memory of revered investigative journalist Paul Foot, who died in 2004.

Paul Foot, an investigative journalist, editor and left-wing campaigner, worked variously for the Daily Record, the Daily Mirror, The Guardian and Private Eye. He was involved in many high-profile campaigns throughout his illustrious career, including the Birmingham Six, the Bridgewater Four and the John Poulson scandal. His accolades include the Journalist of the Year, the Campaigning Journalist of the Year, the George Orwell Prize for Journalism and in 2000 he was honoured as the Campaigning Journalist of the Decade.

Paul Foot died in 2004 at the age of 66.