The BBC has launched an independent review into workplace culture at the corporation in the wake of a number of scandals.
The review is to focus on preventing abuse of power and ensuring everyone at the BBC conducts themselves in line with the organisation’s values.An email about its launch was sent to staff after it emerged that Huw Edwards, formerly BBC’s most senior news presenter, committed offences involving child abuse images.
Last month, the disgraced broadcaster was handed a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after he admitted three charges of making indecent images of children as young as seven.
It came after Jermaine Jenas, who presented line-ups of Match Of The Day and The One Show by the BBC, was sacked following complaints about workplace conduct.
He had apologised for sending former female colleagues “inappropriate messages”, but insisted they were “between two consenting adults” and that his behaviour was not illegal.
Edwards' conviction and the Jenas sacking dealt a blow to the BBC, which has also found itself under fire over complaints from ex-Strictly Come Dancing contestant Amanda Abbington over her dance partner Giovanni Pernice.
BBC chair Samir Shah has admitted to staff that it has "taken longer than I had hoped to get to this stage".
But he said: “I cannot emphasise enough that I am fully committed to tackling inappropriate or abusive behaviour."
In August, the BBC board said recent events had "put a spotlight on the question of power imbalances in the workplace".
They were "concerned about the potential for inappropriate workplace behaviour, particularly in creative and editorial environments", they said.
Mr Shah commented on the delay of the review's launch, saying it had been "important to follow due process – and that sometimes takes time".
"For most of us it is a joy to work for the BBC and that should be the case for everyone. Nobody working in the BBC should ever feel fear or worry while working here," he said.
He added it was clear to him that "we must ensure the BBC is a safe, secure and welcoming workplace for everyone".
