Introduction
- This document outlines the procedures the BBC will adopt for self-initiated investigations into potential breaches of editorial standards.
- This procedure is invoked at the discretion of the BBC, and need not relate to an existing complaint.
- Its purpose is to ensure the existence of a formal process for those occasions where there are strong grounds to believe that a BBC guideline or policy has been broken and senior management believe the potential seriousness of the offence warrants immediate investigation outside the formal BBC complaints process.
- These potential breaches may relate not only to issues arising after the broadcast or publication of the material in question, but also issues occurring at any stage of its preparation
- This procedure is not intended to bypass the existing BBC complaints process and the existence of an internal investigation will not be a bar to complainants if they wish to use existing procedures to express concern about any aspect of the BBC and its output. In that event, complaint handlers will normally await the outcome of the self-initiated investigation before giving a substantive response.
How the BBC will handle an internal inquiry
- Responsible Divisions and content makers are usually expected to recognise where content they have produced is in breach of the Editorial Guidelines.
- In more serious cases (taking account of reputational risk as well as the gravity of the potential breach), the Director-General or senior management will initiate an investigation to be led by a senior editorial figure or figures outside the division concerned and/or from the Executive Complaints Unit. This will be done on a case-by- case basis and the composition of the investigating team will depend on the nature of the allegations, the content it relates to and the expertise required.
- In the most serious cases, the BBC will also consider bringing in a non-BBC figure to join or lead such investigations.
- Investigators will give the relevant content makers sight of the complaint (if there is one) or details of the alleged breach and an appropriate opportunity to respond (which may be oral) to the issues of concern, subject to the requirement to reach a timely resolution.
- Investigators will make a recommendation to the Director-General as Editor-in-Chief unless the decision has already been taken to delegate the authority to the investigators or another senior editorial figure in the BBC.
- The findings of editorial breaches resulting from self-initiated investigations will be published.
- Where the decision to apply this procedure is taken by the Director-General in their role as editor-in-chief or by someone nominated by the Director-General in that capacity, that fact will be made public as soon as reasonable after the decision is made.