This week in fact checks

FACT CHECK

Rail fares are increasing in price faster than other goods and services

The new year saw certain rail fares rise by an average of 2.7%—a figure simultaneously hailed as “below inflation” by the Rail Delivery Group and criticised as “above inflation” by the Guardian. 

So, who is right? The confusing reality is that there isn’t just one measure of inflation (that’s the change in price of goods and services). Rail companies have held price increases slightly below the RPI (one measure of inflation), but this isn’t considered reliable. Better measures suggest the fares are rising faster than the price of other goods and services.

FACT CHECK

British media are not ignoring strikes in France

A viral post on Facebook claims that the BBC and British media are ignoring strikes against pension changes in France. It’s incorrect.

The BBC News website has published a number of articles on this particular strike since it began on 5 December. Other British media outlets, including The Daily Mail, The Guardian and The Sun have all published articles on the strike action.

FACT CHECK

Can’t talk during a 999 call? The police won’t always be dispatched if you dial 55

A widely-shared Facebook image claims that if you are unable to speak during a 999 call, dialling 55 can ensure police are sent to help you.

Dialling 55 should route your call to the police if you can’t talk during a 999 call. But they won’t necessarily send officers, and they can’t always trace calls to an exact address.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this type of claim. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) told us last year that calls from landlines can be linked to an address, but calls from mobile phones will only show a general location at the time of the call.

FACT CHECK

Also this week...

• Not every Nando's restaurant is Halal, as a post suggests
• This video does not show a real nuclear attack alert
• Nor does this video show an official alert siren playing in London

BLOG 

Fact checking the election: a secondee’s eye view 

In last year's election, we were fortunate to be joined by a number of expert secondees who helped the team deliver a greater volume of fact checks at the most critical points in the campaign. 

Alexander Newton from the Office for National Statistics reflects on three and a half weeks as an election fact checker, and the necessity of good data in crunch moments.

UPDATES

Full Fact announced as a Big Issue Changemaker of 2020

This week we were delighted to be named as one of the Big Issue’s 100 Changemakers of 2020. 

Our supporters and readers have been pivotal in putting us at the front line of change making. Thank you!