Panorama's Primark 'In Breach, Says BBC Trust'

The BBC Trust's Editorial Standards Committee (ESC) has found that a Panorama programme 'Primark: On the Rack', broadcast in June 2008, breached the BBC Editorial Guidelines on accuracy and fairness.

The ESC considered an appeal from Primark about certain footage in the programme and has concluded it was 'more likely than not' that this footage was not genuine. The ESC has directed the BBC to make an on-air apology.

The programme, which investigated Primark's claims that it can deliver 'cheap, fast fashion' without breaking ethical guidelines, included footage obtained in a Bangalore workshop of three boys carrying out an activity described in the programme as 'testing the stitching' on Primark garments.

The ESC examined a substantial body of evidence including rushes tapes from the programme, emails to the UK programme team from the freelance journalist who obtained the Bangalore footage, and witness evidence. The ESC has concluded that, although it was not able to say beyond reasonable doubt, it was more likely than not that the Bangalore footage was not genuine.

BBC Trustee and Chair of the ESC Alison Hastings said: "The BBC's investigative journalism is rightly held in very high regard, and for more than 50 years Panorama has made a very significant contribution to that. But great investigative journalism must be based on the highest standards of accuracy, and this programme on Primark failed to meet those standards.

"While it's important to recognise that the programme did find evidence elsewhere that Primark was contravening its own ethical guidelines, there were still serious failings in the making of the programme.

"The Trust would like to apologise on behalf of the BBC to Primark and to the audience at home for this rare lapse in quality," she said.

(BMcN/BMcC)