BBC News/World News

It’s one thing to have a contract, it’s another to enforce or exercise it. Having a ‘better’ one doesn’t necessarily mean that it would have changed anything in their approach in this case.

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I mean now that the sicko has pleaded guilty to being a pedophile making images with children as young as 7… i sincerely hope he pays back that salary for the last few years he was engaged in criminal behaviour - especially the last 12 months he was out on “stress / sick leave” on the public dime with his wife pleading “poor Hew”

Sick leave it was. alright. Just not the type he claimed it was.

One that said - “if you’re found to be involved in criminal activities during your time of employment, employer is entitled to be repaid the salaries paid” would seem to be a fair clause to have .

Of the category A images, the estimated age of most of the children was between 13 and 15, but one was age between seven and nine, the court was told.

If it was a 17 year old, maybe this wouldn’t be quite as bad (albeit still pretty bad regardless given the age gap involved), but anything lower than the age of consent (16 in the UK like here I believe) only gets exponentially more and more horrific and appalling.

It’s going to be interesting.

He’s pretty much going to be airbrushed out of history’s now (the announcement of the Queen kicking the bucket, her funeral etc).

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BBC has a lot of questions to answer too.

They have not made public the details of their investigation

And questions are now being asked if there a culture within the bbc where people at the height of powerful positions feel they can get away with certain things - that they feel untouchable

BBC statement

“The BBC is shocked to hear the details which have emerged in court today. There can be no place for such abhorrent behaviour and our thoughts are with all those affected.

“The police have confirmed that the charges are not connected to the original complaint raised with the BBC in the summer of 2023, nevertheless in the interests of transparency we think it important to set out some points about events of the last year.

“In November 2023, whilst Mr Edwards was suspended, the BBC as his employer at the time was made aware in confidence that he had been arrested on suspicion of serious offences and released on bail whilst the police continued their investigation. At the time, no charges had been brought against Mr Edwards and the BBC had also been made aware of significant risk to his health.

“Today we have learnt of the conclusion of the police process in the details as presented to the court. If at any point during the period Mr Edwards was employed by the BBC he had been charged, the BBC had determined it would act immediately to dismiss him. In the end, at the point of charge he was no longer an employee of the BBC.

“During this period, in the usual way, the BBC has kept its corporate management of these issues separate from its independent editorial functions.

“We want to reiterate our shock at Mr Edwards’ actions and our thoughts remain with all those affected.”

So to my earlier points yesterday , once BBC knew he has been arrested for being a pedophile - they allowed him to continue to be employed for 5 months?

That’s what deadline is saying bbc have admitted

That’s pretty my damning, Jesus

Last week’s annual report showed Edwards [earned his biggest pay packet for five years for a year in which he was arrested midway through

An arrest isn’t a conviction.

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yeah, I do predict a Matt Lauer-style removal from history for Huw…

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Lauer’s and Couric’s report on 9/11 has been erased

There is a significant difference between someone being arrested, then charged, and then ultimately convicted. Sacking someone because they’ve only been arrested is likely to trigger some kind of wrongful termination action from the terminated party, even being charged, yet not convicted can be problematic.

It’s easy to look at this in hindsight and say there are issues with how it was handled - which may be the case, but if the timeline of what was known is consistent with what’s being reported then it’s not hard to see why the BBC handled it the way that they have. Having Edwards on what was indefinite leave to wind down the clock on his contract was more than likely the least worst option for everyone given what was known at the time.

None of this changes the reality that if proven, what he is alleged of doing is reprehensible.

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That’s correct. And I didn’t suggest it was.
I stated a fact.
BBC knew he had been arrested for acts of class A pedophilia and they continued to pay him for 5 months - and not only that. Give him a pay rise.

The culture secretary has already called in the head of BBC to explain this.

So they have some questions to answer.

A short clip of Lauer’s announcement that there had been an attack was used during the Today 70th Anniversary last year.

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What do you mean alleged and if proven?

He’s pleaded guilty.

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I would imagine they’d use the BBC Radio version of the announcement where needed, most likely over generic pictures of the Queen/Buckingham Palace.
Same with the coverage of the funeral, with BBC Radio commentary over the top of the funeral footage.

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Along with the coronation, royal weddings, etc.

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Ofcom has approved BBC Scotland’s proposal.

"Having carefully considered the responses to our consultation, we have decided to approve the BBC’s request.

"We consider that the revised news quota is appropriate for requiring the BBC to fulfil its mission and promote its public purposes, and that the wider BBC plans have the potential to meet the changing needs of audiences in Scotland. We also consider the risk to fair and effective competition is low.

"The BBC must be transparent about how it is delivering for audiences in Scotland, and we will hold it to account. We expect the BBC to monitor the impact of the changes it has proposed and be ready to continue to adapt as necessary to meet audience needs.

“We will also monitor performance and will report on it in our annual report on the BBC next year.”

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