BBC publishes latest Programme Complaints Unit findings

The BBC is on track to improve the way complaints are handled at the Corporation, Director-General Mark Thompson has said, introducing the findings of the Programme Complaints Unit (PCU) for the period July 1 to September 30 2004.
In this quarter the PCU dealt with a total of 284 complaints concerning 191 items.
In all 49 complaints were upheld (seven of them partly) – 17.5% of the total number of complaints received.
Of the items investigated, complaints were upheld against 37 items – 19.5% of the total number of complaints received.
A new complaints procedure, announced earlier this year, will come into operation by early 2005.
Under the reforms, the Programme Complaints Unit will change its name to the Editorial Complaints Unit and will become the first level of appeal rather than the initial point of contact for serious complaints.
(GB)