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| 148 : The Stunning Controversy | ||||
| first broadcast: Wed Jan 5 2011 |
9.00 pm Radio 4 |
presenter: Mark Whitaker |
producer: Mark Whitaker |
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| Mark Whitaker reports from California and Arizona on why so many Americans die after being shot by allegedly "safe" police stun guns. Is the weapon to blame or do the deaths result from other factors? Their formal title is "conducted-energy devices" but, to the public, they are stun-guns or Tasers, named after Taser International of Arizona, the largest manufacturer of the weapon.
Some 11,000 law-enforcement agencies in the United States use them and there is evidence that they reduce the need for police officers to use lethal force. But, there is an intensifying debate about whether they are really as safe as claimed. The programme is written and produced by Mark Whitaker. |
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| 149 : Known Unto God | ||||
| first broadcast: Sun Nov 13 2011 |
11.45 am Radio 4 |
presenter: Mark Whitaker |
producer: Mike Hally |
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| Mark Whitaker recounts the story of the discovery and re-burial of the remains of an unknown soldier from World War 1, one of about two dozen cases a year in France and Belgium. | ||||
| 150 : Malmesbury - the Philosophy Town | ||||
| first broadcast: Fri Nov 18 2011 |
11.00 am BBC Radio 4 |
presenter: Mark Whitaker |
producer: Mark Whitaker |
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| Malmesbury in Wiltshire is famous as the birthplace of Thomas Hobbes, and now wants to establish itself as the country's special Philosophy Town. Britain's most famous political philosopher, Thomas Hobbes, was born there, and Malmesbury wants to become for philosophy what Hay-on-Wye is for books, St Ives for painting or Aldeburgh for music. | ||||