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BBC has no 'specific' sexual harassment and bullying problem, says HR director BBC has no 'specific' sexual harassment and bullying problem, says HR director
(about 17 hours later)
Lucy Adams, the BBC's director of human resources, has delivered an interim report to the BBC Trust which suggests that although the corporation "needs to understand how staff feel" about its culture, it does not seem to have a "specific problem" with sexual harassment and bullying.Lucy Adams, the BBC's director of human resources, has delivered an interim report to the BBC Trust which suggests that although the corporation "needs to understand how staff feel" about its culture, it does not seem to have a "specific problem" with sexual harassment and bullying.
Adams' assertion was revealed in the minutes – published on Thursday – of a BBC Trust meeting held in December. According to the BBC, the trust noted the comments about the BBC not having a problem with sexual harassment and bullying based on Adams' testimony to them.Adams' assertion was revealed in the minutes – published on Thursday – of a BBC Trust meeting held in December. According to the BBC, the trust noted the comments about the BBC not having a problem with sexual harassment and bullying based on Adams' testimony to them.
"Trust members noted the [Adams] review's finding that the BBC's whistleblowing policies and practices were compliant with the law and best practice," the December minutes stated. "They also noted that, although the [BBC] executive had not done an interim report, there did not seem to be a specific problem at the BBC in relation to sexual harassment and bullying.""Trust members noted the [Adams] review's finding that the BBC's whistleblowing policies and practices were compliant with the law and best practice," the December minutes stated. "They also noted that, although the [BBC] executive had not done an interim report, there did not seem to be a specific problem at the BBC in relation to sexual harassment and bullying."
Adams is overseeing an internal review into BBC practices following the Savile scandal and is expected to publish the findings on the issue of child protection and whistle-blowing at the BBC in the spring.Adams is overseeing an internal review into BBC practices following the Savile scandal and is expected to publish the findings on the issue of child protection and whistle-blowing at the BBC in the spring.
However, the task of investigating the issue of sexual harassment and bullying at the BBC in the wake of the Savile affair is being overseen separately by Dinah Rose QC, who will publish a report.However, the task of investigating the issue of sexual harassment and bullying at the BBC in the wake of the Savile affair is being overseen separately by Dinah Rose QC, who will publish a report.
These reports are examining the wider cultural problem at the BBC, while a separate review specifically into the activities of Savile is currently being undertaken by court of appeal judge Dame Janet Smith.These reports are examining the wider cultural problem at the BBC, while a separate review specifically into the activities of Savile is currently being undertaken by court of appeal judge Dame Janet Smith.
Rose's report will be called Respect at Work; while Adams' report does not yet have an official title but will focus on whistleblowing and child-protection.Rose's report will be called Respect at Work; while Adams' report does not yet have an official title but will focus on whistleblowing and child-protection.
The minutes published on Thursday recorded a discussion at a BBC Trust meeting held at the corporation's New Broadcasting House headquarters in central London on 19 December. This was the same day as the publication of the Pollard review into the decision not to air a Newsnight report on the Jimmy Savile sex abuse allegations and its aftermath, and the separate MacQuarrie report on the BBC2 current affairs flagship's disastrous Lord McAlpine story.The minutes published on Thursday recorded a discussion at a BBC Trust meeting held at the corporation's New Broadcasting House headquarters in central London on 19 December. This was the same day as the publication of the Pollard review into the decision not to air a Newsnight report on the Jimmy Savile sex abuse allegations and its aftermath, and the separate MacQuarrie report on the BBC2 current affairs flagship's disastrous Lord McAlpine story.
The Adams and Rose reviews were ordered by the chair of the BBC Trust, Lord Patten, following allegations made in the wake of the Savile scandal regarding the conduct of some BBC staff over many years, and are expected to be published separately in the spring.The Adams and Rose reviews were ordered by the chair of the BBC Trust, Lord Patten, following allegations made in the wake of the Savile scandal regarding the conduct of some BBC staff over many years, and are expected to be published separately in the spring.
Rose is examining claims of sexual harassment at the BBC and the organisation's practices on the issue over the past 40 years, after allegations that there was a culture of endemic sexism and harassment at the broadcaster. Rose is examining claims of sexual harassment at the BBC and the organisation's practices on the issue, after allegations that there was a culture of endemic sexism and harassment at the broadcaster.
Following the Savile scandal, a series of former BBC female staff members have made allegations of sexual misconduct against former colleagues.Following the Savile scandal, a series of former BBC female staff members have made allegations of sexual misconduct against former colleagues.
Asked whether the trust minutes and Adams interim report has pre-empted Rose's report, a BBC source said the HR director's assertions were based on her own experiences of the corporation while making her findings and were not designed to pre-empt the other review.Asked whether the trust minutes and Adams interim report has pre-empted Rose's report, a BBC source said the HR director's assertions were based on her own experiences of the corporation while making her findings and were not designed to pre-empt the other review.
The BBC issued a statement which said: "We will be publishing our 'Respect at Work' report prepared with the assistance of Dinah Rose QC, and also our review of the BBC child protection and whistleblowing policies, in the spring. These are very important pieces of work for the BBC as we want to ensure we are getting things right in these areas."The BBC issued a statement which said: "We will be publishing our 'Respect at Work' report prepared with the assistance of Dinah Rose QC, and also our review of the BBC child protection and whistleblowing policies, in the spring. These are very important pieces of work for the BBC as we want to ensure we are getting things right in these areas."