Bectu responds to Tim Westwood report: “This must be a watershed moment for the industry”

Responding to today’s publication of the Tim Westwood report, Head of Bectu Philippa Childs said:

“Today’s report makes clear a number of historical inadequacies in how the BBC dealt with allegations of misconduct by Tim Westwood during his time at the BBC.

“The Review’s findings all too plainly speak to the culture of extreme power dynamics and ‘untouchable’ talent that persists in the creative industries.

“It is entirely right that the BBC has acknowledged historic failings, and we welcome the Board’s unequivocal commitment to ensure that similar behaviour will not be tolerated in future.

“This must now be a watershed moment for the BBC and for the wider industry, so that we aren’t in the same place next month or in a year’s time.

“Our research from May last year showed that high-profile cases have done little to shift the dial on the industry’s bullying and harassment problem.

“Many creative industry workers will find the report familiar and very difficult reading. The BBC and the wider industry must collectively commit to a radical step-change if the workforce is to have any confidence that things will change.

“The establishment of the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority is welcome progress in giving workers an independent, confidential service to turn to.

“But employers must also do more to ensure their own procedures and reporting mechanisms are fit for purpose and support a culture where workers are confident that allegations are taken seriously. We look forward to seeing the recommendations that come out of the BBC’s Culture Review which is due to conclude soon.”