New strand on BBC 2 - is it necessary?

[charliesmummy]

I understand that BBC 2 are to screen a new three part series called The Hunt for Britain's Paedophiles; starting Thursday 6th of June. It will show graphic images of children being used for violent sexual gratification. The footage in the programme was seized in raids on paedophiles homes, however, the faces and body parts have been digitally blanked (oh good).

The Controller of BBC2 has supported this project since the outset and justify's its launch by saying that she 'hopes that it will make people really think about the issue'.

Is it me ... don't we all think about this in dark moments and do we really need to see this on our screens? I was just wondering what anyone else thinks. I know that I won't or rather can't watch it as I will find it so awful - cowardly I know. Is'nt it enough that we know that 'they' are out there and with all the media coverage that there is anyway when another vile thing happens - or should I/we watch this, why should I need to make an informed judgement? Sorry this is a bit verbose - night shift and v tired.

Charliesmummy I agree with you - the thing I would be concerned about is that if any other 'weirdo' sees these graphic images, it might just give them the idea to go and try it for themselves. It would be extremely disturbing to see these images and while I understand that the purpose of it is to make people more aware of the issue and to get some of these hideous crimes out into the open, it still might prompt another sick paedophile into doing the same thing. Not only that, I feel it just may be too upsetting for most 'normal' people to watch.

With this rationale, we should all be shown scenes of violent rape and murder, just to make sure we're all really thinking about those issues too.
No one can be in any doubt how harmful paedophile activity is to children. Only paedophiles believe the child to be a willing participant. I think all this will do is feed already sick minds, and make 'vigilante'activity against suspected paedophiles even more likely, once people have their stomachs turned by these images.

It sounds horrible. I won't be watching it.

I think maybe we should all inundate the BBC's website with complaints? After all Brass Eye was severly rapped for it's programme and this sounds worse. What would we need to see this for at all? Sounds like an excuse for some Paedophile's to tune in. Makes what they do normal if it's given air time.

No, let's all complain about this, try to get it stopped, this sounds outrageous!

I have just visited the BBC2 website and tried to look at the press releases for this programme. However, whenever I try to open them, I am informed that there is an error due to information that viewers will not understand, thus the programme fails to open the document, surprise surprise. I am so incensed by this, and the fact that we as licence holders, are paying them to show this sort of crap, that I have emailed a strongly worded complaint to the BBC website. If you all want to do the same, which I strongly recommend you do, then the site is: news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/feedback/complaints_form.stm. I wish I could do links!

If they get enough complaints they might be forced to do a re-think on this.

I looked too and the same happened. As I am at work again tonight, I was watching BBC1 and saw the first promotion for this programme it looks horrendous. I am so depressed about this being shown, so sad. I mentioned this to my dh earlier before I left for work; he ALWAYS plays devils advocate, and said that he thought maybe it would show just how much work the police do to find and prosecute these evil people - he is in the police though so he would say that!.

Yes, it had crossed my mind that it was probably a PR piece for the police service.

I'm sure I will find this programme far too distressing to watch, but I really don't agree with banning it. For years and years nobody every talked about paedophilia (though it certainly exists as all those poor kids who were abused by priests and in children's homes prove) and children who dared complain were never believed - in fact, they were often punished as evil fantasists. Now we all know it exists, which must make us all more aware that a. to warn our children about inappropriate behaviour and let them know that people can't touch their bodies
b. to assure them that they CAN tell us about anything that happens to them and they will be believed.
c Be more aware of inappropriate/typically paedophiliac behaviour in other adults and so more vigilant on behalf of all children
I believe that this kind of publicity makes us all more aware of the realities of child abuse and helps us protect our kids. Also, it may (and I haven't seen the programme) show paedophiles that they are not safe, that there are ways of catching them, that their access to websites can be monitored and that they will be caught and punished, which also has to be a good thing.
One more point, finding and catching these people must be the most awful, horrific, traumatising job in the world, and I do think we owe a debt of gratitude to the police who are dedicated to it. Maybe they deserve a bit of positive publicity showing how hard they work and what horrors they have to endure to protect children?

Well, the best way of complaining is not to watch. I don't agree that (and again, haven't seen it, obviously) a TV programme can tell me how to protect my kids from paeodophiles.

I don't mind them doing a piece on paedophilia, but surely you can get your message across without showing graphic footage of children being abused? Brass Eye got condemned for doing a satirical piece on paedophiles, and from what I know it was far tamer than this. The only reason the BBC are getting away with it is because it purpotes to be a serious documentary.

The only people who are going to be interested in watching the footage are other paedophiles who may want to know how others are going about their vile trade.

The BBC have done this to shock and stir up publicity for their show. Nothing drums up more viewers than a good piece of controversy. It is another example of them putting profits before taste and decency.

If anyone can give me a good enough reason why actual footage of children being abused needs to be shown then I'm all ears.

If you do decide to watch and you feel that you need to complain, not only can you complain to the BBC as Rhubard says, but PLEASE e mail the Broadcasting Standards Commission (cant do links) www.bsc.org.uk.

What worries me much more about this whole debate is that, as (sensible) adults, we can choose whether to watch or not, if given enough info about what to expect in advance. In this way, I'm fairly against censorship.

BUT as a secondary school teacher I know that the 9pm watershed means diddlysquat for a huge numbers of kids (and their parents) and lots of school-age children will be watching this. Obviously, this throws up all sorts of problems.

It's OK for the programme makers of this and other such programmes to say it's aimed at an "intelligent" concerned adult audience and we can take from this programme what we want, as far as information goes, or we can switch off.

However, I'm sad to say that an element of the children watching this programme will be very disturbed by it, and find out things they just don't need to know and probably wouldn't have even if they watch all sorts of other sexual and violent tripe. There must also be a very small percentage of kids who will watch it and be titilated by it - those who have had quite dysfunctional backgrounds already; those to whom violent sex is fascinating whoever the subject. I know this is a dreadful thing to point out, but we'd be fooling ourselves if we didn't think some kids think like this. Remember, all paedophiles were themselves kids once. Given the chance, don't you think these individuals would have loved the opportunity to watch something like this when they were younger and just starting to formulate their fantasies? Programme makers owe us and those children exposed to things like this a much later watershed or a responsibility to not broadcast in certain circumstances.

Sorry, also forgot to add something aligned with what Rhubarb said: if they insist on showing this programme, at the time it is scheduled - or any time in actual fact- then footage of abuse DOES NOT need to be shown. The visual image is the what arouses most humans. If they're discussing the subject seriously then do just that - Discuss.

Yes, the programme should have been made & should be aired to bring these sickos out & let them know they can't get away with it, but no , I cannot see why it should contain scenes of graphic sexual violence towards kids (or adults or anybody). At worst, they could tell us in narrative what they do, if they really feel we need the info, they do not have to SHOW us. Also (& i'll say this to the BBC, ) isn't it counterproductive in that lots of 'concerned intelligent decent' adults will NOT watch because of the imagery we've been warned about? (& lots of pervs will, by the same token, I would have thought).