Social media training to be made mandatory for all RSPB staff following Charity Commission rap over online insult

                                   

The offensive tweet caused embarrassment to the RSPB's chief executive, Beccy Speight, because it was posted by a staff member without her prior knowledge 

THE RSPB has pledged to introduce mandatory social media training for ALL its staff.

The decision was made this week after the organisation was rapped by the Charity Commission over a post on Twitter that described three Cabinet ministers as "liars".

Said the CC:"The tone and nature of RSPB’s post was inappropriate and had not been signed off at the appropriate level within the charity”.

In the wake of a huge row over last September's  Tweet, the RSPB's chief executive, Beccy Speight took to the airwaves to apologise.

Following this week's CCs ruling, the RSPB has  issued the following statement: "Without approval and without going through the correct established processes, a post was published on an official RSPB social media account by one individual using language that attacked politicians involved, not their proposals.

"We quickly apologised on the same platform the same day, and again in the media."

The statement continues: "We then took immediate steps to understand what had happened and review and enhance our processes to prevent a similar incident happening again. 

"We carried out internal and independent investigations, and we reported ourselves to the Charity Commission. 

"We have decided to introduce mandatory social media training for all our staff. and have deleted the original social media post that caused the issue." 

It is understood that the unnamed member of staff who authorised the offensive tweet is no longer employed by the RSPB.

                                            

The social media insult that sparked the furore. Apart from its offensiveness, it was potentially libellous, added to which the RSPB risked forfeiting huge grant income from the Government. One of the targets of the attack was the then Environment Secretary Therese Coffey who, at the time, was the RSPB's parliamentary champion for the bittern.