Channel 4 Ticks Off Nottingham Council

Nottingham City Council is attempting to issue an injunction against Channel 4 after the broadcaster filmed a documentary on children in the Council’s care without acquiring permission first.

The film, Staying Lost, was made by production company October Films, and Nottingham City Council is also alleging that the film-makers induced youngsters in council care to break the law, fake homelessness and pose as prostitutes.

Channel 4 vehemently denies the allegations, believing that the film deals with a subject of important public interest and that the public has a right to see it. The broadcaster does not believe that it has infringed the Independent Television Commission’s (ITC) code, or that it has harmed the interests of the children which it filmed.

At the end of last year, Carlton was fined £2 million by the ITC for faking its documentary The Connection, based on drug trafficking (see Newsline).

Nottingham City Council’s actions have been reportedly backed by the city’s police, who claim to have received a number of complaints about the activities of October Films which have caused them great concern.

Channel 4: 0171 396 4444 ITC: 0171 255 3000