Complaint
This programme featured interviews with members of a group protesting about Luton Borough Council鈥檚 Children鈥檚 Services department in relation to cases of 鈥渇orced鈥 adoption. It included an interviews with an observer, known only as 鈥淏ecka鈥, who spoke in support of social workers in the field of child protection, and with the Councillor who holds the portfolio for Children鈥檚 Services at the Council. 聽A listener complained the item failed to explore the background to the protest group, or to interview an organiser. They also alleged that 鈥淏ecka鈥 is a social worker working for Luton Borough Council. The ECU considered this against the standards for due impartiality set out in the 大象传媒 guidelines.
Outcome
The sequence reflected the opinions and concerns of the parties involved and in the ECU鈥檚 view it was appropriate for the Councillor to be given time to respond to the concerns raised by聽 parents whose children had been placed for adoption by the Council. Three Counties Radio was unable to substantiate the claim about Becka, and a possible conflict of interest. 聽The reporter was not aware of this suggestion at the time. The ECU noted however that the interview concerned Becka鈥檚 own experiences as someone who, as a child, was placed with foster parents and had dealings with social workers responsible for her care. 聽She did not comment on Luton Council鈥檚 Children鈥檚 Services鈥 level of service or cases mentioned by the protestors. 聽Listeners would have understood her to be offering a relevant opinion about fostering and adoption based on her personal experience.
Not upheld