Methodology

Ceredigion Watch is evidence-led. Every factual claim traces to a published source record. This page explains how we work.

Sources we use

We prioritise primary and official sources: Audit Wales reports, Public Services Ombudsman for Wales findings and annual letters, ICO decision notices, Adjudication Panel for Wales decisions, Care Inspectorate Wales inspection reports, HM Inspectorate of Probation reports, PEDW/Welsh Government planning appeal decisions, council committee papers and minutes, and FOI/EIR responses.

We use local and national media to identify incidents and to provide context, but we do not treat media reports as primary evidence of official findings.

How we label evidence

Every evidence record and investigation carries one of six status labels:

Established fact — verified by multiple primary sources or formally acknowledged by the body concerned.
Regulator finding — a finding by an independent regulator (Audit Wales, PSOW, ICO, APW, CIW, HMIP, PEDW) in an official report or decision notice.
Maladministration — a finding by the Ombudsman or equivalent that a public body acted improperly.
Overturned on appeal — a decision that was reversed by a higher authority.
Allegation (unverified) — a publicly reported claim that has not been adjudicated by an independent authority. Not presented as proved.
Ongoing — a matter that is live, contested or under investigation.

Corrections

We correct the record quickly when we get something wrong. Corrections are dated and recorded on the Corrections Log. We do not make silent corrections.

Right of reply

Where an investigation names or references an individual or body in a material way, we offer a right of reply before or at publication. Whether a response was received is recorded publicly alongside the article.