BBC Cops Come Under Fire

BBC2’s new drama series The Cops has been attacked by the Police Federation as being a ‘poor reflection’ of life in the force. The programme received its first screening on Monday, and showed officers taking drugs, planting evidence on suspects and using violence.

A spokesperson gave the following response to Newsline this afternoon:”We have worked closely with retired and active police officers, who recognise The Cops as a tale of front-line bobbies working in often difficult circumstances. We are not making a documentary about the police…The Cops is an adult drama, clearly signalled, which is transmitted after the watershed on BBC2.”

This is turning out to be a difficult period for the BBC in general, having lost various sports broadcasting rights, suffered problems with Radio 4 and have their staff strike in protest to high wage increases for senior staff (see Newsline).

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