Home  Attitudes & Opinions My Letter to BBS Acting Director General Mark Byford |
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My Letter to BBS Acting Director General Mark Byford |
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Wednesday, 07 April 2004 |
Dear Mark Byford,
As you'll know. I was wrongly convicted of sex offences and am appealing
through both the CCRC and to the ECHR. I've never had the slightest
interest in children sexually. But I was deeply offended by your programme
on Police Protecting Children. By pretending to be an unbiased examination
of a problem,the series is continuing to fan the flames of prejudice.
Could nobody in the show have mentioned that there ARE such things as
victims of false allegations? That the many suspects who escaped
prosecution might not have "got away with it" but might, as the law found,
have been innocent? That over enthusiastic police DO assist witness
statements by suggesting similar facts and accusations? That compensation
cash, revenge, genuine delusion and numerous other reasons DO exist to
provoke false claims?
Might your producer have considered that constant filming of raids and
smashing windows and doors and shackling suspects on the floor might
encourage mindless vigilantes? Talk about a one sided encouragement of
prejudice, without a single word about The Other Side.
There are hundreds of ruined lives, from suicides to prison, prompted by
false allegations. Our society now hisses the word 'paedophile' with all
the force of "jew" in Nazi Germany.
Would you have encouraged programmes on the murdering mothers of babies a
few months ago, before Sally Clark and Angela Cannings and Trupti Patel
sparked off an invesetigation into the 72 women serving life for killings
that now seem to be cot deaths? Is your producer now preparing a series on
Muslims, presenting them all as terrorists? It's an easy line to cross and
easier still to blur. It's a matter of conscience, for society and public
service broadcasters. News of the World television may get ratings. But
it will also encourage more panic amongst the simple, paediatricians houses
burned down, further police expense chasing innocent men and women (with as
much sanctioned violence as possible... doesn't smashing down doors and
breaking windows look fun?). all in the name of "he/she GOT AWAY WITH IT".
When the fat policeman with the German name is falsely accused of historic
rape, he'll be damn grateful for any protection (minimal, I have to tell
you) that the courts provide. As, indeed, will be your producer.
Might I suggest another series on the serious problem of manufacturing
monsters to fit tabloid headlines?
And one last comment. When that female police officer said "there are only
two possibilities - either several unconnected witnesses have come up with
similar stories by coincidence or they all happened", she was being
disingenuous. There is a third possibility. Over enthusiastic officers
may have provided the information. Believe me, it happens.
Best wishes
Jonathan King.
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