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Case against BBC reporter dropped | Case against BBC reporter dropped |
(10 minutes later) | |
No criminal proceedings are being brought against a BBC undercover reporter arrested earlier this month. | No criminal proceedings are being brought against a BBC undercover reporter arrested earlier this month. |
Arifa Farooq, 30, took a job as a care worker while investigating alleged abuses in homes for the elderly for the TV programme Panorama. | Arifa Farooq, 30, took a job as a care worker while investigating alleged abuses in homes for the elderly for the TV programme Panorama. |
Miss Farooq was later arrested over an alleged failure to provide accurate personal details to the care home. | Miss Farooq was later arrested over an alleged failure to provide accurate personal details to the care home. |
But The procurator fiscal in Glasgow has now said there will be no criminal case brought against her. | But The procurator fiscal in Glasgow has now said there will be no criminal case brought against her. |
Following the decision, BBC Scotland's head of news and current affairs, Atholl Duncan, said: "We welcome this decision from the fiscal. | Following the decision, BBC Scotland's head of news and current affairs, Atholl Duncan, said: "We welcome this decision from the fiscal. |
"This case had important implications for investigative journalism and we are pleased that it will not proceed any further." | |
Arifa deserved praise for what she did, not persecution Pete MurrayVice president, National Union of Journalists | |
Miss Farooq was detained and held in a police cell for about an hour, in the wake of Panorama's investigation into care providers in South Lanarkshire. | |
She went undercover as part of a two-month investigation to work for Domiciliary Care, which had won the South Lanarkshire contract by bidding £9.95 an hour in an online auction. | She went undercover as part of a two-month investigation to work for Domiciliary Care, which had won the South Lanarkshire contract by bidding £9.95 an hour in an online auction. |
It is understood police received a complaint about her securing employment with the Clydebank-based company using a false identity . | It is understood police received a complaint about her securing employment with the Clydebank-based company using a false identity . |
The journalist, who works with the BBC Scotland investigations unit, was arrested after voluntarily attending an interview at Maryhill police station in Glasgow. | The journalist, who works with the BBC Scotland investigations unit, was arrested after voluntarily attending an interview at Maryhill police station in Glasgow. |
'Classic journalism' | |
Pete Murray, vice president of the National Union of Journalists, said following the fiscal's decision: "It is an enormous relief for Arifa and her friends and family that the procurator has decided not to take this case forward. | |
"Arifa deserved praise for what she did, not persecution. The Panorama programme was a classic example of investigative journalism at its best." | |
The programme, Britain's Homecare Scandal, broadcast in April, centred on an in-depth investigation of domiciliary care, provided in Harrow, York and South Lanarkshire. | |
It found carers employed by some companies on minimum wages, often with very little training and frequently frustrated by poor management. | |
It also uncovered evidence of missed and curtailed visits and failure to keep proper care plans. | It also uncovered evidence of missed and curtailed visits and failure to keep proper care plans. |
The programme prompted the Scottish Parliament's Local Government committee to announce it was launching an investigation into the practice of online bidding auctions for homecare contracts. | The programme prompted the Scottish Parliament's Local Government committee to announce it was launching an investigation into the practice of online bidding auctions for homecare contracts. |