My Letter to BBS Acting Director General Mark Byford |
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. |