ITC Fines Carlton £2 million For Fake Drugs Documentary

The Independent Television Commission (ITC) has imposed a £2 million penalty on Carlton after an inquiry found a documentary focusing on drug-trafficking called ‘The Connection’ to be fake (see Newsline).

Carlton has been fined for ‘grave breaches of the programme code’ for the documentary, which was broadcast in October 1996. It has also been directed by the ITC to broadcast an apology on its ITV network, the terms of which must be agreed by the Commission.

Sir Robin Biggam, ITC chairman, commented on the matter: “The fact revealed even in the investigation instituted by Carlton demonstrates that The Connection was not only comprehensively in breach of the ITC Programme Code, but involved a wholesale breach of trust between programme makers and viewers. The programme set out with ambitious claims to demonstrate the existence of a major new route for drug-running in the UK. But much of what was offered as evidence used to substantiate this was fake.”

It was announced yesterday that controller of compliance and legal affairs for Carlton, Don Christopher, resigned as ‘a matter of principle (see Newsline).

Nigel Walmsley, director of broadcasting at Carlton, released the following statement: “Carlton has received the ITC’s findings, which are in line with the report of the independent panel that we established as soon as allegations about this programme were made. The panel’s report made a number of important recommendations to improve supervision and compliance procedures. These are being implemented in full.”

ITC: 0171 306 7743 Carlton: 0171 663 6363