Panorama — 1999

Jan 1999

Five years after the murder of his son Stephen, Neville Lawrence, in a special report for Panorama examines whether the Metropolitan Police is doing enough to combat racism.

Jan 1999

Fergal Keane, former BBC Johannesburg correspondent, returns to South Africa to look for a mother-of-seven he first filmed in 1994 when she was living rough with her children in a squatter camp.

Jan 1999

Britain is facing a food-poisoning crisis. The number of reported infections has soared, with up to 10 million people falling ill and an average of 200 people dying every year from contaminated food.

Feb 1999

Although the majority of British people want to stay out of "Euroland" and keep the pound, Tony Blair claims that we should join when the time is right, and detailed government plans have already been drawn up.

Feb 1999

Two years after the first cloned sheep, scientists in Britain, America and the Far East are racing to be the first to clone a human baby, with scientists in Korea having already reproduced a few human cells.

Feb 1999

PM Tony Blair says he is not a control freak and that he leads the "People's Party". But some politicians who are still popular with the people have discovered that they are not being given the chance to represent them in Parliament.

Feb 1999

Tonight, Panorama reports on the disease which is every parent's nightmare. Meningitis in Britain is at it's highest level in 50 years, it's increasing and no one knows why. It is the leading cause of death in children under five.

Mar 1999

How did a British gynaecologist, struck off the Canadian medical register for professional incompetence, return to Britain as a senior consultant to operate on women?

Mar 1999

Teenagers are having sex younger than ever before. As the age of 1st sexual intercourse drops, the number of teenagers getting sexually transmitted diseases is rising. Doctors are worried that they don't realise the risks they are running.

Mar 1999

The greatest threat to international sport is the use of performance enhancing drugs. Gavin Hewitt reports from America and Europe on the Olympic officials accused of turning a blind eye to athletes' drug use.

Mar 1999

Three years ago the United Nations Special Commission on Iraq, UNSCOM, charged with ridding Saddam Hussein of his lethal arsenal. became fatally compromised.

Mar 1999

Changing the mind of Slobodan Milosevic. As NATO attacks on the Kosovan regime's leader a report on what drives the man and why he has he launched a systematic persecution of the Kosovan Albanians?

Apr 1999

British shoppers are being overcharged by international designer labels, and there seems to be little anyone can do about it. Traders who try to undercut the big names feel intimidated into submission.

Apr 1999

On 6 May Scotland will hold the election of its first parliament in almost 300 years. This election will totally change the shape of British politics, and could possibly lead to the break up of Britain as a political entity.

May 1999

Britain has seen a dramatic rise in the number of estranged parents who have abducted their children when their relationship fails. Parents trying to retrieve their children face lengthy legal battles that are expensive and fruitless.

May 1999

More than half the processed food consumed is made with genetically modified crops. As consumer resistance grows, Panorama investigates claims that there are no adequate long-term tests to guarantee safety to our health or the countryside.

May 1999

Panorama investigates the growing concern about the health implications of mobile phones, and examines accusations that the industry has covered up possible risks, delayed research and cancelled scientific funding.

Jun 1999

David Dimbleby chairs a Panorama studio special which charts road to peace deal.

Jun 1999

The new minimum wage was meant to be good news for Britain's worst paid workers, but thousands have ended up no better off and some are getting even less than before. Vivian White investigates.

Jun 1999

Two lawyers have now been murdered in Northern Ireland. Both represented IRA suspects, both claimed before their deaths that the police had threatened to have them assassinated. Panorama investigates the claims.

Jun 1999

London house prices are going through the roof, while in some northern cities entire streets are being bulldozed because no-one wants to live there. Who wins and who loses in the housing lottery?

Jul 1999

As the refugees of Kosovo return to their devastated land, Panorama reveals the true extent of the atrocities by Serb paramilitaries and police. How likely is it that the killers will be brought to justice?

Jul 1999

The wiring of some aeroplanes contains a potentially catastrophic fault - one that can set fire to the aircraft. Tom Mangold investigates previous air disasters where wiring was the cause, and asks why warnings were ignored.

Sept 1999

Children are being left with parents who neglect and abuse them because the law says keeping families together is the ideal. But a report says the law should be changed, with children at risk removed from families and adopted much sooner.

Sept 1999

Panorama investigates the exclusive world of private hospitals. And asks why when patients have to be transferred to NHS intensive care units from a private hospital - the taxpayer pays? Vivian White investigates.

Sept 1999

As Britain's congested roads descend into carmageddon, An investigation into how far the government is prepared to go with measures to force motorists on to public transport.

Oct 1999

Despite record profits this year, new research shows that more than half of Britain's banks are trying to "fire" the customers who cost them money. Adrian Chiles investigates.

Nov 1999

Investigation into Paddington rail crash on October 5th 99. Panorama also looks at state of railway system at Paddington.

Nov 1999

The disabling illness chronic fatigue syndrome is estimated to affect about 25,000 British children. But doctors profoundly disagree on its cause and treatment. Matthew Hill investigates.

Nov 1999

Are the police going soft on drugs? Panorama reveals the results of a unique three-year study into what police really think about the drug laws. Peter Marshall reports on changing attitudes.

Nov 1999

Panorama reveals those who have decided they must act now to curb guns, by targeting manufacturers and sellers directly through the courts. Over twenty American cities are now in the process of filing claims against gun manufacturers.

Nov 1999

Tonight's Rail Week programme looks at Britain's railways. Panorama asks who is to blame for under-investment in the system and frequently delayed trains? Vivian White investigates and reveals why the problems may well get worse.

Dec 1999

An investigation into Russia's organised crime, focusing on the country's most notorious criminal suspect. Friends of Semion Mogalevich call him "Seva", the brainy don. His enemies claim he's Russia's most dangerous gangster.

Dec 1999

John Ware reports on how Labour tried to stop Ken Livingstone standing in the election for London's mayor, and how the party machine is still working against him now he is on Labour's official short-list.