Benefits Street - My Complaints to Channel 4 and Ofcom - Judge for yourself

Ofcom has found against all 887 complaints to it about Benefits Street - Channel 4 and Love Productions Benefit Shaming Programme (BBC article link below). Still people have made their views clear by making by making the Programme makers unwelcome all over England. A finding in their favour by TVs' equivalent of the weak and biased PCC (Press Complaints Commission) doesn't represent a clean bill of health. Whether or not they broke Ofcom rules the Programme was poor quality, upsetting for many participants and residents, and biased. I don't believe there was sufficient protection for mental and physical wellbeing of participants and residents. Authorities continue to allow routine abuse by organisations' of people's mental wellbeing. Hence, for all those reasons it is unwelcome, I think this kind of Programme is also going out of fashion.

Benefits Street not in breach in Ofcom rules - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-28086213


My Complaint to Ofcom - 25th January 2014

Programme title:
    Benefits Street

Date and time of broadcast(e.g. 01 January 2009 23:00):
    06 January 21:00

Channel / station:
    Channel 4

Subject:
    Wellbeing of participants, respect communication

Description (please use 1500 characters or less):
    From email to Ch4
I have emailed 3 times to channel 4 - the last email below to channel 4 summarises my concerns
Residents in Safehouses?
The lax attitude in this email in reply to me is the reason you are having to make special precautions to protect residents.
But you are still stirring hatred. Statements such as Children are everywhere! - said in a judgmental way incite hatred.
You keep showing the programme, putting Twitter Hashtag before every break, and without any warning to people about acceptable conduct re: twitter threats.
Warnings need to be made in a similar way to when news warned amateur photographers not to get close to the sea during storms. Omitting such warnings is irresponsible to the victims of twitter abuse, and to those who post improper content.
I note that the allegations giving unhealthy food and drink to residents to take part continue. This amongst press and media that are no more nor less reliable than channel 4. Further there are allegations of abuse against local primary school children and adults by poverty tourists.
You say that the team built strong relationships with the community, but many have appeared on BBC and other media such as London radio, complaining that they were misrepresented. So at least some of the relationships have broken down. Yet those people are still in the programme edited in such a way that may be out of context and cause upset.

My email to Channel 4 -

Dear ****

You say that the team built strong relationships with the community, but many have appeared on BBC and other media such as London radio, complaining that they were misrepresented. So at least some of the relationships have broken down. Yet those people are still in the programme and edited in such a way that may be out of context and cause upset.

Your reply shows no experties on mental nor physical health and wellbeing, and I find it to be of below professional quality, leaving many questions as to the steps taken to ensure welfare of participants and other residents unanswered.

sincerely

Dr Peter Hale



My Email to Channel 4 - 25th January 2014

Residents in Safehouses?

Dear ****

The lax attitude in this email in reply to me is the reason you are having to make special precautions to protect residents.

But you are still stirring hatred. Statements such as "Children are everywhere!" said in a judgemental way (if you don't believe me replay it) incite hatred.

You keep showing the programme and putting the Twitter Hashtag before every break, and without any warning to people about acceptable conduct re: twitter and threats.

I'm not saying that programmes should normally be cancelled or edited, nor that twitter warnings normally be put out, but this is an exception.

Warnings need to be made in a similar way to when news warned amateur photographers not to get close to the sea during storms. Omitting such warnings is irresponsible to the victims of twitter abuse, and to those who post improper content.

I note that the allegations giving unhealthy food and drink to residents to take part continue. This amongst press and media that are no more nor less reliable than channel 4. Further there are allegations of abuse against local primary school children and adults by poverty tourists.

You say that the team built strong relationships with the community, but many have appeared on BBC and other media such as London radio, complaining that they were misrepresented. So at least some of the relationships have broken down. Yet those people are still in the programme and edited in such a way that may be out of context and cause upset.

Your reply shows no experties on mental nor physical health and wellbeing, and I find it to be of below professional quality, leaving many questions as to the steps taken to ensure welfare of participants and other residents unanswered.

sincerely

Dr Peter Hale

Channel 4 Reply 15th Jan 2014

Dear Dr Hale,

Thank you for contacting Channel 4 Viewer Enquiries regarding BENEFITS STREET.

In response to the queries posed in your email, both Channel 4 and Love Productions, the production company responsible for the series, strongly refute any suggestion that scenes have been set up or produced in any way or that any contributors were given bribes, gifts or other inducements to ensure the filming of them.This is a strictly observational documentary series made by an experienced team and filmed following strict protocols in accordance with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code.

Furthermore, we take participant welfare extremely seriously. During the time that the series was developed, a period of 2 years and filmed over 12 months, the team built strong relationships with the community. The contributors were briefed extensively before any filming took place and have been given support all the way through the process, members of the production team having been in daily contact with them. In addition,we have offered advice to contributors on how to ensure their security on social media and remain in contact with both residents and police to ensure their welfare.

We hope the above allays any concerns you may have, however please be assured that your comments have been logged and noted for the information of those responsible for our programming.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact us. We appreciate all feedback from our viewers; complimentary or otherwise.

Regards,

*****
Channel 4 Viewer Enquiries

My Email -  10th Jan 2014

Dear ****

This is a standardised reply. I SPECIFICALLY asked what Channel 4 is doing re: its duty of care over the welfare of participants who are upset and getting death threats. As an expert in this area I want to ensure that you are catering for their needs so that their health is not affected.

Please answer my question.

sincerely

Dr Peter Hale

Channel 4 Reply - 10th Jan 2014

Dear Mr Hale,

Thank you for your email regarding the recent programme, Benefits Street.  

This is an observational documentary series following the lives of those living in a particular area of Birmingham, where the majority of households receive benefits.  The premise of the series is to offer an insight into their lives.   We believe the films show how people in diminished circumstances cope with the current climate of austerity and cuts in benefits and how the residents? community spirit comes to the fore in times of need.

We believe the programme and series is a fair and balanced portrayal of life on James Turner St for those contributors featured. The series is not, was never intended to be and indeed could not be a general representation of the vast numbers of people in the UK who, for whatever reason,  find themselves, for all sorts of reasons, having  to rely on benefits.

We appreciate you taking the time to write to us with your comments which have been logged for the information of those responsible for the programme.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact us. We appreciate all feedback from our viewers; complimentary or otherwise.

Regards, 

****

Channel 4 Viewer Enquiries