Charles Thomson

Newsquest crime and investigations reporter Charles Thomson uses strong rapid-response news reporting and long-term investigation to both expose institutional failures and cover-ups and reveal their heartbreaking, often overlooked, human costs.

One extraordinary exclusive story told how an elderly woman was found wheeling her daughter's decomposing body around a local shopping centre. Charles uncovered the story having realised that important inquests were going unreported. He spent a year embedded in East London Coroner’s Court, building trust with staff. The catalogue of institutional failures that led to Joan Turnell pushing her daughter’s body around would never have come to light without Charles’ diligent attention at the Court. His exclusive made national and international headlines. 

Another notable story is that of police failures in the case of a serial child abuser, Daniel Taylor. Interviews with victims revealed how one had reported Taylor to the police almost a decade before he was sentenced. Charles also spent three years battling Havering Council and the Information Commissioner’s Officer to uncover and publish a dossier of racism allegations from council staff about their bosses, even taking the ICO to court. The saga became a running story in Private Eye’s Rotten Boroughs column.

Judges’ comments: “An outstanding investigative reporter whose persistence, legal skill and sensitivity with vulnerable sources consistently deliver public-interest revelations. His work shows rare depth and impact, exposing institutional failings that would otherwise have remained hidden.”