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Channel 4 Entraps Willing Shoplifters on Camera, Prompting Police Investigation

21st Century Wire says…

If you ever wondered how insular and wasteful the mainstream media can be, you need only look to Channel 4 in the UK. On first glance, it appears that they have lost the plot completely, but it’s actually much worse than that…


With all the issues and world events currently facing Great Britain and the world, the media mandarins at Channel 4 have decided to feature a how-to tutorial on shoplifting, in their TV show cynically entitled, “Benefits Street”. Note that this program cost thousands to produce.

What’s much worse, is Channel 4’s disingenuous and highly reckless entrapment of the subjects it recruited for the show who were caught on camera. This has now triggered a police investigation into those duped into making this mindless programme.

This type of condescending, elitist media production is wonderful TV cannon-fodder during times of austerity. Subtle, albeit classic, social conditioning.

Will Ofcom shut them down? No, of course not.

Here is the Mail’s commentary on this debacle…

Backlash over TV lessons in how to shoplift: Flood of complaints triggers police probe into Channel 4 documentary

Stephen Wright
Daily Mail

  • Benefits Street features the lives of several jobless living in Birmingham
  • West Midlands Police admit they are reviewing footage for crimes 
  • ‘Manipulated’ residents complain series has made area ‘look like slums’ 
  • 4.3m saw it, making it most watched Channel 4 show for more than a year
  • Ofcom receives complaints about the portrayal of criminality by show

Channel 4 was facing a police probe last night over a documentary featuring a thief showing how to shoplift.

Detectives are considering whether to investigate the criminal activities seen in the programme on welfare claimants.

The prolific shoplifter explains how to dodge security alarms and how to remove security tags from designer clothes without causing damage.

More than 200 complaints were made to Channel 4 and the broadcasting watchdog Ofcom after Benefits Street aired on Monday night.

Residents in a deprived Birmingham road were filmed making false welfare claims and growing cannabis in their homes. John O’Shea, a Labour councillor in the city, said: ‘Channel 4 appear to have aided and abetted shoplifting in Birmingham.’

Superintendent Danny Long, of West Midlands Police, said: ‘We have been inundated with comments from members of the public, many of whom are concerned about elements of the show which showed criminal activity.

‘We are assessing whether the content of the programme can assist  us as part of any investigations or indeed whether any new inquiries should be launched in light of the material that has been broadcast.’ 

The programme explores day-to-day life in James Turner Street, Winson Green, where, it is claimed, as many as 90 per cent of people claim benefits.

Continue this report at the Daily Mail

READ MORE EUROPEAN NEWS AT: 21st Century Wire Europe

 

 

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