BBC staff suspended over phone-ins

A BBC statement said: "We can confirm that a small number of staff have been asked to step aside from their duties whilst we review issues surrounding the incidents referred to on Wednesday.

"We would like to stress that this should not be taken to mean that we have already made a judgment in the case of the staff concerned. This is in line with BBC's policy and procedures and is consistent with our duty of care to individuals."

The staff were not named but are said to be at the level of executive producer or above.

The news came as Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said he would meet the head of the Yard's specialist crime directorate, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve House, to discuss the matter.

He did not rule out a formal police investigation, saying: "It is probably a bit too early to tell at the moment, but if we are requested to investigate it we will.

"I think it needs a bit more time to understand what's going on."

The BBC admitted on Wednesday that six shows, including charity appeals Comic Relief, Sports Relief and Children In Need, had deceived viewers by using fake competition winners for viewer phone-ins.

Unions had warned the BBC not to make junior production staff scapegoats for the crisis.

Bectu attacked the Corporation for "feigning" surprise that workers had not blown the whistle on the string of viewer deceptions. Gerry Morrissey, general secretary of Bectu, said: "How can the BBC expect employees who have little or no job security to expose the activities of anyone else?"