30 Minutes

Kevin Maguire investigates Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair's record in office in the wake of the Forest Gate anti-terror raid, exploring the reality behind his reforms.

New Statesman political editor Martin Bright explores claims that the Government is appeasing radical Islam by failing to address the ideology that breeds extremism. In so doing, he alleges, they are ignoring the vast majority of moderate Muslims.

Journalist Alasdair Palmer questions the Government's policy of releasing convicts into the community under the supervision of the probation service. He argues that as some have been gone on to commit abductions, rapes and murders after release, the scheme self-evidently fails to prevent re-offending.

An investigation into why Britain can't seem to manage its water supply, revealing how regulatory systems fail to penalize waste and suggesting the Government's house-building program will only add to the problem.

Former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy shares his experiences of politicians, and discusses what he sees as their tendency to sacrifice their principles in pursuit of power. He suggests MPs can often actively shrink from public speeches to avoid openly addressing serious issues.

Former police officer Nina Hobson reports on the number of rapes that occur in Britain, discussing how the authorities deal with sex crimes, and the varying standards of victim support through the country.

Two years after Poland joined the EU, Digby Jones examines the impact of employers using Polish migrants to plug the gaps in industries crying out for skilled personnel and do jobs that British people seem unwilling to take on. He explores the reasons why Poles have been received into the country with open arms.

Sarah Smith reports on the collection of personal information on children by the Government that will be made available to thousands of civil servants across the country. By 2008, a database will hold a file on every youngster in the country for spotting potential trouble-makers of the future.

Former Whitehall advisor Dr Ros Altmann argues the Government could afford to be more generous with the basic state pension, but additional money risks being squandered through means testing and outsourcing. Financial advisers suggest that under new proposals outlined in a White Paper on the issue, few people would actually be better off.

Newspaper columnist, writer and mother Jane Moore discusses the rising numbers of women who are obese during pregnancy. She argues that whereas the risks of alcohol and smoking at this time are widely known, the increased medical problems associated with obesity are not. Last in series.