Are self-swab kits ‘the start of the end of sexual violence’, or could they cause more harm than good?

Against a backdrop of chronic underreporting of sexual assaults, thousands of self-administered rape test kits have been distributed across Bristol, targeting university campuses. But are users, already coping with trauma, being given the clarity they need to make informed choices?

Listen: Bristol Unpacked, with former Lord Mayor Paul Goggin on homelessness, mental health and the struggle for south Bristol votes

'It's been eventful', says Paul Goggin, of a life that has featured both rough sleeping and local politics. He joins Neil Maggs to talk housing, faith, and whether Labour should fear Reform in wards like Hartcliffe and Withywood.

Bristol Uni student calls out fossil fuel donations during graduation protest

The stunt was in response to the university’s decision to accept £3m from oil, gas and mining companies since 2017, which the student called 'rank hypocrisy'.

‘I feel like I can do anything’: breaking the ‘survival sex’ cycle

Women often feel trapped in massage parlour sex work, leaving only to be drawn back in 'when difficulty hits'. LoveWell, a Bristol company, aims to offer a route out of exploitation.

Listen: People Just Do Something, with striking teacher Nik on trade unionism’s ‘ethical gravy train’

What is a strike? What are trade unions for? How can you organise your workplace? Teacher and NEU rep Nik steps away from the picket line for a 'union bro love-in' with Isaac that answers these questions and more.

Humiliation, trauma and mistrust: why we must scrap Section 60

The founder member of police accountability group Bristol Copwatch explains why the Avon and Somerset force must stop running racist and ineffective suspicionless stop-and-search operations.

No silver bullet: why we should stop criminalising young people and start investing in them

Anti-knife violence campaigners and youth workers speak out on school exclusions, the reasons children are carrying knives, and why the police must stop ‘victim-blaming’ kids.

Listen: People Just Do Something with Jake Hanrahan, more than just ‘a gritty Louis Theroux’

Why did Jake Hanrahan become a journalist, how did he turn war reporting on its head with Popular Front, and why does he reckon the industry is 'one of the most grotesque things I've seen in my life'? Join Priyanka and Isaac to find out.

‘This does not feel like justice’: two young men jailed and one on trial for resisting far-right extremists

Months on from the far-right violence that gripped Bristol in August, police and prosecutors are treating anti-fascist counter-demonstrators the same as people who brought racist disorder to Bristol’s streets.

Concerns over donations to Bristol MPs are about more than just freebie Taylor Swift tickets

Local Labour MPs Darren Jones, Dan Norris and Damien Egan have taken donations from a range of sources, including pro-Israel lobby groups. Does that compromise their integrity in Parliament?

Listen: Bristol Unpacked with Amanda Sharman on leading the charge for boat-dwellers’ rights

Who are the boat-dwellers living around Bristol's harbour, and why have they been at loggerheads with Bristol City Council? Neil Maggs chats to Bristol Boaters' Community Association co-chair Amanda Sharman to find out.

Callout: How is the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood impacting you?

The Cable wants to track the experiences of local residents during the trial scheme in late 2024 and early 2025 - so have your say!

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