Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ
publishes latest Programme Complaints Unit findings
The
Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ today (Wednesday 4 February 2004) publishes the latest findings
of the Programme Complaints Unit (PCU) for the period 1 October
to 31 December 2003.
In
this quarter the unit dealt with a total of 342 complaints concerning
231 items.
55
complaints were upheld (15 of them partly) - 16% of the total number
of complaints received.
Of
the items investigated, complaints were upheld against 31 items
- 13.5% of the total number of complaints received.
The
PCU report contains summaries of the findings in those cases.
In
his foreword Mark Byford, Acting Director-General, said he had been
asked in December 2003 to take on special responsibility for editorial
standards - a responsibility he would retain in his new role.
He
said: "It falls to me to take forward the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ's review of complaints
handling, and that will mean changes in many areas of the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ.
"But,
however we decide to reorganise our systems, what will not change
is the principle on which the Programme Complaints Unit has always
been based - a provision for independent investigation of serious
editorial complaints."
Notes
to Editors
The
Programme Complaints Unit deals with letters of complaint which
give reason to believe that something broadcast by the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ's licence
fee-funded services may have fallen seriously short of the standards
set out in the .
Complaints
about other matters, such as policy, changes to the published schedule,
technical standards or questions of personal preference, are forwarded
to the appropriate areas of the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ for attention.
The
unit is commissioned to investigate complaints impartially and to
recommend appropriate redress.
Generally
this involves viewing or listening to a recording of the material
and pursuing the complainants' points with the programme-makers
and editorial executives directly responsible.
Related
release
Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ
Governors publish latest Programme Complaints Committee findings
(04.02.04)
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