Exclusive: A BBC whistleblowing investigation has found evidence that management failed to stamp out a culture of homophobic abuse at a local radio station.
The internal report, which is understood to have been completed this year, partly upheld the claim that “failures at managerial and institutional level at BBC Radio Cornwall created and perpetuated an environment in which abuse of gay people was implicitly or explicitly tolerated”.
The outcome of a whistleblowing investigation was revealed as part of an employment tribunal involving former BBC Radio Cornwall presenter Jack Morley, who took legal action against the company for unfair dismissal.
The BBC told the court that Morley had been sacked for breaching social media guidelines, but the broadcaster said he had been discriminated against for being gay and a union representative.
Morley's final written report to the court, obtained by Deadline, refers to the internal whistleblowing investigation and describes its conclusion as “deeply damaging.”
In its final report, the BBC said the report detailed Morley's “deplorable treatment”, but said it was not evidence that managers treated him “less favourably” because of his sexual orientation.
The BBC said the perpetrators of the alleged “historical” abuse detailed in the whistleblowing investigation were “mostly” former employees, suggesting that some individuals accused of homophobia were still working at the company.
During court hearings in Exeter, Emma Clements, executive editor of BBC Devon and Cornwall, gave evidence about the WhatsApp management group. During questioning, she accepted that there were posts in the group that could be “interpreted as homophobic”, according to Morley’s written report. Clements said she “challenged the perpetrator privately” but the posts were not deleted.
Deadline asked the BBC a series of questions about the whistleblowing report, including whether those accused of wrongdoing had faced disciplinary action. A spokesperson declined to comment amid ongoing legal proceedings.
The organisation's Diversity and Inclusion Policy states: “The BBC is committed to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of recruitment and employment and will not tolerate unlawful discrimination or harassment in any form.”
The revelation of the report comes as the BBC conducts a review into workplace culture and staff are being questioned about their experiences of wrongdoing or abuse of power. This work is led by management consulting firm Change Associates, and is expected to be completed next year.
Employment Court Judge Alastair Ismail will rule on Morley's case next year.
