BBC Panorama Episode On Primark Breached BBC Editorial Guidelines

Following an appeal by Primark against a finding by the BBC's Editorial Complaints Unit, the BBC Trust's Editorial Standards Committee has found against the BBC and has found that a Panorama programme breached the BBC Editorial Guidelines on accuracy and fairness. In particular, it concluded that it was more likely than not that footage used in the June 2008 edition of Panorama, entitled "Primark: On the Rack", was not authentic. This will come as a positive decision for many corporate entities that find themselves the subject of reports by investigative journalists, and will help ensure that any such reports will be scrutinised accurately and fairly.

A complainant may refer to the BBC or to Ofcom, the communications regulator, for complaints in respect of a BBC broadcast, with the exception of issues of impartiality and inaccuracy which remain the responsibility of the BBC. An initial complaint to the BBC should be made within 30 days of the transmission, and should