Summary of complaint
We have received complaints from people who felt coverage of legal advisers helping migrants to pose as LGBTQ+ or suffering domestic violence was inflammatory and disproportionate.
Our response
Our response
Our undercover investigation into immigration advisers uncovered serious wrongdoing which, as we state in our reporting, has a negative impact on the whole asylum system and exploits those seeking asylum for profit. Throughout our reporting we made sure to reflect the risk that genuine human rights asylum cases could be negatively impacted by the illegal activity we uncovered. We were very careful to not demonise legitimate asylum seekers.
A tracker poll by YouGov suggests immigration and asylum have been seen by many over the last 15 years as among the most important issues facing the country.
We recognise this isn’t a view shared by everyone, but we’re obliged to serve the wide range of people who make up the BBC’s audience. We think it’s important to scrutinise the asylum system where it is prompting widespread concern in the UK.
The BBC doesn’t take a position on issues, and the prominence of the coverage of this story is not politically motivated. There is a clear public interest in investigating abuses of the system and possible illegal activity, and our reporting has prompted a government investigation.
