21 July 2023 , 09:42
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The BBC is set to review how non-editorial complaints are processed following allegations made against one of its biggest stars.
The review will be led by BBC Group Chief Operating Officer Leigh Tavaziva. The work will be undertaken by Deloitte, under the direction of Simon Cuerden, Partner.
It follows BBC News presenter Huw Edwards being identified by his wife Vicky Flind as the male presenter at the centre of an alleged scandal involving sexually explicit images.
The BBC has today (July 21) published the Terms of Reference for the review of the BBC’s policies and processes regarding non-editorial complaints.
The review will commence this month and is expected to be completed by late autumn.
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Huw Edwards' wife shared earlier this month that the BBC News presenter was currently in hospital (BBC)Led by the BBC Group Chief Operating Officer, Leigh Tavaziva, the review will comprise of five steps, including identifying "all the routes into the BBC where different types of non-editorial complaints may be made (the routes) and the relevant BBC policies and processes (processes) that are applied in handling these complaints."
In the press release shared by the state-funded broadcaster today, it also outlined plans to "assess the identified routes and processes. This will cover the processing and handling of different types of complaints including: receipt and triage, escalation, evidence gathering, co-ordination between business units, roles and responsibilities, governance and oversight."
It continues to state the review - set to be be undertaken by Deloitte, under the direction of Simon Cuerden, Partner, in order to provide an impartial and objective assessment - will "gather specific learnings on the processes deployed in the recent presenter case, identify areas of weakness relating to the complaints routes and processes and develop prioritised actions for improvement."
Huw's wife Vicky Flind announced on July 12 her husband is the male BBC presenter accused of paying over £35,000 to a young person for sexually explicit images. The Metropolitan Police said on the same day they had concluded their inquiry into the allegations.
The police statement shared read: "Detectives from the Met's Specialist Crime Command have now concluded their assessment and have determined there is no information to indicate that a criminal offence has been committed. In reaching this decision, they have spoken to a number of parties including the BBC and the alleged complainant and the alleged complainant’s family, both via another police force.
"There is no further police action. As such, the Met has advised the BBC it can continue with its internal investigation. We are aware of media reporting of further allegations against the same individual. No specific details or information about these allegations have been passed to us and therefore there is no police action at this time.
"Should evidence of criminality or safeguarding issues be identified at any point we would expect matters to be referred to the relevant police force."
In the statement shared on behalf of Huw, Vicky said: "In light of the recent reporting regarding the " BBC Presenter" I am making this statement on behalf of my husband Huw Edwards, after what have been five extremely difficult days for our family. I am doing this primarily out of concern for his mental well-being and to protect our children.Huw is suffering from serious mental health issues.
"As is well documented, he has been treated for severe depression in recent years. The events of the last few days have greatly worsened matters, he has suffered another serious episode and is now receiving in-patient hospital care where he'll stay for the foreseeable future.
"Once well enough to do so, he intends to respond to the stories that have been published. To be clear Huw was first told that there were allegations being made against him last Thursday. In the circumstances and given Huw's condition I would like to ask that the privacy of my family and everyone else caught up in these upsetting events is respected. I know that Huw is deeply sorry that so many colleagues have been impacted by the recent media speculation. We hope this statement will bring that to an end."
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Following the family statement, BBC Director-General Tim Davie said in a note to staff it is "important" that the work on the internal investigation continues, adding: "I want to be clear that in doing so we will follow due process." He also stressed that the corporation’s "immediate concern is our duty of care to all involved".
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