Ofcom Partly Upholds 2 IOPC Complaints Over BBC's Chris Kaba Documentary

10 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 11

Ofcom ruled the BBC treated the police watchdog unfairly in parts of a Panorama film on Chris Kaba, upholding two complaints over omitted right-of-reply and a statement not included before broadcast.
The regulator cleared the programme over former IOPC director Sal Naseem's claim that a murder probe was launched amid pressure over possible public disorder, saying the BBC had taken reasonable care on that point.
Neil Basu and Tony Long's criticisms were the breach: Ofcom said the IOPC was not given a proper chance to answer comments that could materially damage viewers' opinions of its independence and decision-making.
The BBC said the ruling broadly matched its own complaints unit's findings and noted it later added the IOPC statement to iPlayer and an online article, while the IOPC said the broadcaster still refused a public apology.
The case stems from the 2022 police shooting of Chris Kaba; officer Martyn Blake was cleared of murder in October and is still awaiting a decision on possible disciplinary proceedings.

Does the row over one documentary mask a deeper crisis in UK police accountability?

With the BBC, police, and their watchdog under fire, who can the public actually trust?

Is Britain's media regulator a toothless watchdog or a genuine threat to free speech?