BBC suspend court documentary
21 Oct 04
BBC Scotland pull documentary on Glasgow Sheriff Court after interdict sought
BBC Scotland pulled a documentary on Glasgow Sheriff Court from its schedule last night after an 18 year old sought interdict against being shown in the programme.
The programme was due to go out at 10.35 pm, but when an all-day hearing looked like extending late into the evening, the BBC stated through its counsel Paul Cullen QC that it considered the right course was not to transmit the programme that evening.
The petitioner claimed that she attended court as a member of the public when her boyfriend was due to appear as an accused. She had been drinking and had taken drugs when she was approached by a member of the documentary team and pressurised and offered inducements to allow herself to be filmed. Despite an assurance that she would be allowed to see the footage before broadcasting and object to its transmission, the BBC and programme makers had subsequently refused to agree tha t she would not be shown.
The BBC claim that the woman and a friend had approached the team and willingly agreed to take part.
The hearing, before Temporary Judge Malcolm Thomson QC, will be resumed at a later date.