Editorial Standards and Fact-Checking Policy
Last updated: 10 July 2026
Proof Casebook is committed to accuracy, fairness, evidence and responsible public-interest reporting.
1. Verification
Before publishing a significant factual claim, we aim to examine more than one reliable source where reasonably possible.
Preferred sources may include:
- Court judgments and official case records.
- Government publications.
- Police and regulatory statements.
- Company and charity registers.
- Direct interviews.
- Original documents.
- Credible local and international news organisations.
- Academic or professional research.
- Verifiable photographs, recordings or public statements.
Social-media posts alone will not ordinarily be treated as proof of a serious allegation.
2. Facts, allegations and opinions
We distinguish between:
- Verified facts.
- Allegations.
- Witness accounts.
- Official claims.
- Analysis.
- Editorial opinion.
- Information that remains uncertain.
Headlines should not state an allegation as an established fact.
3. Presumption of innocence
People accused of criminal wrongdoing will be treated as innocent unless and until guilt is established through an appropriate legal process.
Where relevant, articles will explain whether a person has been:
- Accused.
- Arrested.
- Charged.
- Tried.
- Convicted.
- Acquitted.
- Cleared.
- Released without charge.
- Subject to an appeal.
4. Right of reply
Before publishing a serious allegation about an identifiable person or organisation, we will normally attempt to obtain a response where it is reasonable and safe to do so.
The article may state that the subject:
- Responded.
- Declined to comment.
- Could not be reached.
- Had not responded by publication time.
A response received after publication may be added where relevant.
5. Public interest and proportionality
We consider whether publication contributes to a legitimate public-interest purpose, such as:
- Exposing crime, corruption, fraud or serious misconduct.
- Protecting public safety.
- Correcting harmful misinformation.
- Explaining the operation of government or public institutions.
- Holding powerful people or organisations accountable.
- Reporting court proceedings.
- Preventing the public from being misled.
Public curiosity alone is not automatically the same as public interest.
6. Privacy and dignity
We balance freedom of expression against privacy, safety and the risk of unnecessary harm.
We avoid publishing private addresses, telephone numbers, identification documents, banking details or other unnecessary personal information.
We exercise additional care when reporting on:
- Children.
- Victims of sexual offences.
- Vulnerable adults.
- Bereaved families.
- Medical information.
- Victims of abuse or trafficking.
- People protected by reporting restrictions.
7. Court and crime reporting
Before publishing information about active proceedings, we aim to consider:
- Whether proceedings are legally active.
- Whether a reporting restriction applies.
- Whether anonymity is required.
- Whether publication could create a substantial risk of prejudice.
- Whether the information was heard in open court.
- Whether the wording accurately describes the current stage of the case.
We do not encourage readers to speculate publicly about the guilt or innocence of a person facing active proceedings.
8. Anonymous sources
Anonymous sources may be used where:
- The information is important.
- There is a genuine risk of harm, retaliation or loss of employment.
- The source has credible access to the information.
- The information can be independently supported where possible.
Anonymity will not be granted merely to enable unsupported personal attacks.
9. Images and video
Images should not be presented in a misleading context.
Illustrative, reconstructed, AI-generated or stock images will be labelled where there is a meaningful possibility that readers could mistake them for documentary evidence.
Graphic images will be used only where editorially justified, with appropriate warnings.
10. Use of artificial intelligence
Artificial-intelligence tools may assist with research organisation, transcription, editing, translation, image creation or formatting.
AI output will not be treated as a reliable source by itself.
Material produced with AI must be checked by a human before publication. We will not knowingly publish invented quotations, fabricated sources or false evidence.
11. Political coverage
Proof Casebook does not exist to provide automatic support for any government, party, politician or political movement.
We may praise verifiable achievements and criticise documented failures.
Political claims should be evaluated using evidence rather than loyalty, popularity or social-media pressure.
12. Religious and faith-related reporting
We respect lawful religious belief and practice.
However, religious status does not place an individual or organisation beyond legitimate scrutiny where there is credible evidence of fraud, abuse, exploitation, criminality or serious public deception.
Criticism will focus on conduct, evidence and public-interest issues rather than hostility towards people because of their religion.
13. Commercial influence
Advertising, affiliate arrangements and sponsorships will be separated from independent editorial judgement.
Paid or commercially influenced content will be labelled.
14. Corrections
Substantive factual errors will be corrected promptly and transparently.
See our Corrections Policy for further information.