BBC Scotland is facing complaints over the framing of a story which “adds to fears” of far-right violence in Scotland.
There has not yet been any unrest north of the Border despite a wave of riots in England and Northern Ireland following a far-right misinformation campaign about a stabbing in Southport which left three children dead.
Amid concerns that the violence could spread to Scotland, First Minister John Swinney held meetings with police chiefs, political leaders, and community and faith representatives on Wednesday.
In the wake of the meeting, Scottish Refugee Council chief executive Sabir Zazai told the BBC that people in communities he worked with had been left scared to go outside because of the riots south of the Border.
Headline Zazai’s comments, the BBC wrote: “Refugees in Scotland 'living in fear' following riots”.
It accompanied the headline with a photo of a crowd of anti-immigration rioters setting fire to a Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham in England.
Other images from the same violent protest, which the BBC did not use, showed English and Union flags visible in the background.
People on social media took issue with the BBC’s framing of the story, arguing that it suggested there had been riots in Scotland and that doing so added to the fear spreading through communities.
The MSM Monitor account on Twitter/X highlighted the framing of the story, writing: “Seriously? Another disgracefully misleading headline and image from BBC Scotland.”
On Wednesday morning, the account then highlighted the difference in the stories at the top of the BBC UK and BBC Scotland news feeds. The UK page had the headline “‘Successful night,’ Met Police chief says after mostly peaceful rallies across England”, while the Scotland page was topped by the story saying “Refugees in Scotland 'living in fear' following riots”.
These are the top stories right now on the BBC UK page and the BBC Scotland page respectively. You'd be forgiven for thinking Scotland, not England, had the racist riot problem. It's shocking isn't it. pic.twitter.com/eju0t2vyNR
— MSM Monitor (@msm_monitor) August 8, 2024
MSM Monitor wrote: “These are the top stories right now on the BBC UK page and the BBC Scotland page respectively.
“You'd be forgiven for thinking Scotland, not England, had the racist riot problem. It's shocking isn't it.”
Sharing the original post, former SNP MP Alison Thewliss raised concerns about the choice of image on the BBC story.
She said on social media: “I know people are scared and worried, but this photo is not from Scotland.
“Using photos like this only adds to fears in our communities.”
Thewliss said there had been a “choice” not to use other photos from the same event, sharing a link to one taken at the same time but showing a prominent England flag.
I know people are scared and worried, but this photo is not from Scotland. Using photos like this only add to fears in our communities. There's been a choice, too, not to use this other photo from the series: https://t.co/1cim8C4Q27 https://t.co/PPpbNoqzbY
— Alison Thewliss (@alisonthewliss) August 7, 2024
Artist Greg Moodie posted an invitation for people to complain about the article’s framing, accusing BBC Scotland of “wilful misrepresentation”.
Moodie shared a complaint he had sent to the BBC which read: “The headline (‘Refugees in Scotland “living in fear” following riots’) and accompanying image imply that riots are already occurring in Scotland, which is not the case. Alternative photographs of the same scene clearly show a prominent England flag.
“This is a deliberate misrepresentation by BBC Scotland News.”
A BBC spokesperson said: "The caption on the first photograph used in the piece and the first paragraph make it clear that riots had been taking place elsewhere in the United Kingdom.
"The story was focused on fears that had been expressed by the Scottish Refugee Council and there was no suggestion in the report that disturbances had taken place in Scotland."
