BBC Issues Apology Over Mishandling of Staff Harassment Complaints

The broadcaster admitted it failed to adequately support female employees targeted by ex-presenter Alex Belfield, who was jailed for stalking in 2022.

The BBC apologized for not doing enough to protect four female staff members from harassment by former presenter Alex Belfield.
Belfield, previously with BBC Radio Leeds, was jailed in 2022 for stalking broadcasters, including Jeremy Vine, who described the abuse as 'Olympic-level stalking.'
The four women—Rozina Breen, Elizabeth Green, Stephanie Hirst, and Helen Thomas—faced years of online abuse but were not adequately supported by the BBC before 2019.
The broadcaster has since introduced measures such as an online abuse reporting tool, expanded mental health resources, and improved internal investigations.
Indefinite restraining orders were issued against Belfield, who was cleared of stalking charges against the women but found to have waged a campaign of harassment.