A BBC investigation found essay‑writing services remain widely available and used by students at UK universities despite a 2022 law that criminalized providing such services for post‑16 qualifications. The probe identified persistent advertisements, overseas operators and an absence of prosecutions by the Crown Prosecution Service and Department for Education. Universities say they impose internal academic penalties for cheating, but the investigation raised concerns about enforcement, student support for language and writing, and the incentives driving demand for purchased work. Academic integrity offices, admissions teams and international student support units are re‑examining detection, prevention and pedagogical interventions while urging clearer enforcement lines and cross‑jurisdictional cooperation to curb commercial cheating.