BBC sparks panic among female employees after staging fake late night break-in at regional office

Two BBC reporters were left terrified after bosses staged a break-in to test security measures at a regional headquarters.

Director general Tim Davie has promised to investigate after the incident which took place last Thursday at the BBC studios in Nottingham.

The two female reporters found the man lurking in the car park under the studios.

It turned out the man was an actor who was paid to test the security at the BBC facilities.

BBC director-general Tim Davie

A female worker there said: “The staff had just left the Newsroom after finishing the East Midlands Today late TV bulletin.

"It was late so there were few people around. They went to the car park underneath the building.

"It’s enclosed with a shutter which opens to let cars in and out.

"They found the man hiding between cars and were terrified.

An actor hired by bosses to pretend to be an intruder to probe weak spots

"He identified himself and explained he was working for the BBC in a ‘penetration test’.

"Women working here are angry that money is being spent on stunts like this rather than on better security."

East Midlands BBC editor Emma Agnew emailed staff to say no managers in England had been notified of the procedures.

She wrote: "I have been in direct contact with Tim Davie and he has promised to get back to us as a matter of urgency.

The incident took place on Thursday, November 9.

According to consultancy firm Evalian, tests on security can often cost anywhere between £600 and £3,000 per day.

East Midlands Today is broadcast from Nottingham and covers the region including Derby and Leicester.

A spokesperson from the BBC said: “We don’t comment on security matters.”

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