Statement on Procedures for handling content standards and licensing investigations and sanctions

Ofcom is preparing to take on regulation of the BBC from 3 April 2017. In the process of preparing our BBC procedures (see https://www-pp.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/consultations/93904-ofcom-and-the-bbc/procedures-bbc.pdf), we have also reviewed our current procedures for considering and investigating breaches of the Broadcasting Code (“the Code”), Ofcom’s broadcast licences and rules for on demand programme services (“ODPS”). These apply to all other broadcasters and ODPS providers that Ofcom regulates.

Following consultation, this document sets out our responses to stakeholders’ comments and the procedures that Ofcom will normally follow when:

• considering and investigating content standards issues under the Code;
• considering and adjudicating Fairness and Privacy complaints under the Code;
• considering and investigating issues under an Ofcom broadcast licence;
• considering the imposition of sanctions for breaches of broadcast licences;
• considering and investigating issues under the rules for ODPS; and
• considering the imposition of sanctions arising in the context of ODPS.

These new procedures will come into effect alongside our BBC procedures, when Ofcom takes over responsibility for regulating the BBC on 3 April 2017.