More than two weeks ago, I sent this complaint to BBC Complaints:
Their answer:
We have and continue to provide comprehensive coverage of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021.
Throughout that morning our coverage correctly attributed the claims, that the hate crime legislation should be scrapped, to the Scottish Conservatives. We also provided the Scottish Government response, that ministers acknowledged communication could have been better but the law was required to protect the most vulnerable form those who stir up hatred.
This followed our coverage the previous day (16 April) in which we reported a reduction in hate crime reports. That included the views of Justice secretary Angela Constance MSP, the Scottish Conservatives Justice spokesperson Russell Findlay MSP and Scottish Labour Community Safety spokesperson Katy Clark MSP.
We do recognise that a greater level of detail and exploration may be appreciated by some of the audience but we won’t always go into the level of detail, background and related aspects that some in the audience might like us to – there being scope, of course, for further exploration, analysis and scrutiny across our output over time.
Our guidelines do not simply provide for “balance” but for “due impartiality”. They say: “Impartiality does not necessarily require the range of perspectives or opinions to be covered in equal proportions either across our output as a whole, or within a single programme, webpage or item. Instead, we should seek to achieve ‘due weight’… For instance, an appearance by a politician, or other contributor with partial views, does not normally have to be followed by someone taking a contrary view, although it may sometimes be necessary to offer the opportunity to respond.”
In our output you should expect to hear from a variety of voices over time. Sometimes it may depend on which parties choose to comment on specific issues and news events.
Ah, which parties choose to comment?
We’re just reporting what happens out there in the world. If the SNP had contacted BBC Scotland to point out the dramatic collapse in the number of calls by only the second day, we’d report that. It’s not our job to read Police Scotland’s daily updates, is it? Yes we do report Conservative and Labour comments more than yours but that’s because they’re better.
And we won’t always go into the level of detail?
Detail? Like the massive change from the first to the second day as reported by Police Scotland? Not in the public interest?
I’ve learned my lesson. There’s no point in complaining to this shoddy crew.
Talking-up Scotland / Scottish media fact checking is like shooting fish in a barrel 
BBC Scotland appear to be admitting that the organisation is so structurally biased that it is not capable of producing programs that meet the standards of neutrality that are a fundemental requirement for a state broadcaster.
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their standard of neutrality is centred on everything english is good and anything not english needs to try and be more english otherwise it is substandard
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Yes we do report Conservative and Labour comments more than yours but that’s because they’re Better Together. Therr, fixed’it…
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BBC is a BritNat state propaganda outfit, no way will complaints change their disgraceful bias against the SNP. The Brit state wants rid of the SNP not to give any positive or factual information even if it was a matter of life or death. Scotland is in great peril being shackeld to the country next door.
O/T but I saw a video by a Turkish news outlet and, well here it is…might as well see for yourselves this ‘protest’ re Gaza, outside of the Scottish parliament. The person speaking has been on ‘hunger strike’ for EIGHT days but seems very well and not suffering at all…hmm.
Protesting about the ‘Scottish government’ ‘funding’ the genocide in Gaza I kid you not.
I watched a young man, I think he was in the US army, being interviewed at Democracy Now recently who had been on hunger strike for days he could hardly speak or think he was so weakened by lack of food..he was genuine in his protest and an amazing young man. He didn’t cover his face either…
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Complaints about ” BBC Impartiality” – surely an oxymoron !
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Complaint to the BBC and there response:
COMPLAINT:
Breakfast (TV News)
When was it broadcast? (dd/mm/yyyy). 17/04/2024
How did you watch or listen to the programme? Actual (Live)
Select the best category to describe your complaint:
Standards of interviewing/presenting
What is the subject of your complaint?
Hate Crime Law Scotland – impact on policing
Please enter your complaint:
In the BBC Scotland section at around 06:30am, in a report into the new Hate Crime in Scotland, you repeated the Conservative Party’s claim that the new law was unworkable and taking a huge toll on Scotland’s police.’
Then contrary to you own editorial guidelines, you relied on a single source with an explicit political agenda, did not check and verify their claims and did not balance that with an easily available and highly credible alternative source, casting them into serious doubt.
The Conservative Party’s claims were based on a Police Scotland report, one week earlier, notifying us of a large increase in online hate reports being received – 7152 – but one week later and 24 hours before, with adequate time to inform, your report this morning, Police Scotland posted again to say: “The number of online hate reports being received by Police Scotland has dropped almost 75% in the second week since the introduction of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 on 1 April 2024. Management data released by Police Scotland shows there were 1832 online hate reports received between 8 and 14 April, 2024, down from 7152 the previous week.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We have seen a significant reduction in the number of online hate reports and these continue to be managed within our contact centres with minimal impact on frontline policing.”
Why did your report not use this information – a massive reduction in one week and an official statement of minimal impact on frontline policing, to challenge the Conservative Party’s clearly nonsensical claim?
Please publish on all broadcasts an apology including the evidence of the massive decline in only one week and the Police Scotland statement.
RESPONSE:
Dear Mr Thomson
Thank you for getting in touch about Reporting Scotland on 17 April 2024, with specific reference to our morning bulletins.
We have and continue to provide comprehensive coverage of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021.
Throughout that morning our coverage correctly attributed the claims, that the hate crime legislation should be scrapped, to the Scottish Conservatives. We also provided the Scottish Government response, that ministers acknowledged communication could have been better but the law was required to protect the most vulnerable form those who stir up hatred.
This followed our coverage the previous day (16 April) in which we reported a reduction in hate crime reports. That included the views of Justice secretary Angela Constance MSP, the Scottish Conservatives Justice spokesperson Russell Findlay MSP and Scottish Labour Community Safety spokesperson Katy Clark MSP.
We do recognise that a greater level of detail and exploration may be appreciated by some of the audience but we won’t always go into the level of detail, background and related aspects that some in the audience might like us to – there being scope, of course, for further exploration, analysis and scrutiny across our output over time.
Our guidelines do not simply provide for “balance” but for “due impartiality”. They say: “Impartiality does not necessarily require the range of perspectives or opinions to be covered in equal proportions either across our output as a whole, or within a single programme, webpage or item. Instead, we should seek to achieve ‘due weight’… For instance, an appearance by a politician, or other contributor with partial views, does not normally have to be followed by someone taking a contrary view, although it may sometimes be necessary to offer the opportunity to respond.”
In our output you should expect to hear from a variety of voices over time. Sometimes it may depend on which parties choose to comment on specific issues and news events.
Thank you again for your feedback. We’ve included your comments in our overnight reports, which are among the most widely read sources of feedback in the BBC, ensuring that complaints are seen quickly by the right people.
This is our response at Stage 1a of the BBC’s complaints process. If you’re dissatisfied with this reply, a follow-up complaint may be considered at Stage 1b. You must submit a follow-up within 20 working days through the BBC Complaints webform. If you do decide to contact us again, please include your case number, and explain why you feel your complaint has not been addressed. We will then review your complaint.
Kind regards
BBC Scotland Complaints Team
http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints
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What extraordinary statements – BBC Scotland’s logic appears to be that any political party can claim what they like evidence free, we don’t have to verify whether it’s true – It is incumbent on another party to second-guess the framing and content of what we later broadcast… 😲
IIRC, Yousaf had commented in interview (BBC?) the previous day that the deluge had abated as shown in the figures PS had published, yet the Tory false claim was allowed to stand ?
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The BBC’s reply to Mr Thomson re his complaint over bias in the coverage of the Hate Crime Act.
“… there being scope, of course, for further exploration, analysis and scrutiny across our output over time.”
It looks like the BBC are pencilling in a spot in their schedule for opposition guests and celebrity pundits to produce their anecdotal evidence of the effects of the act.
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Doubtless on the back burner until the GE is announced…
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