BBC Riots

  I was shocked to learn that the BBC will not give the Police unbroadcast footage of the riots unless the Police obtain a court order. Such footage of the riots could be used to identify the culprits responsible for the looting, burning and destruction and lead to their prosecution. If they have footage of looters taking  goods from  the shops they have wrecked or footage of the young thugs setting fire to or damaging shops, flats  and cars then surely they should hand it over immediately? Why should they expect the Police to use their valuable time to get a court order and pay the  cost of obtaining a court order? Also  how are the police to know what unbroadcast footage exists and therefore apply to the court for? Why do the BBC feel entitled to impose this cost and delay?

The BBC should decide if they are on the side of the law abiding British public, who pay the licence fee to maintain the BBC or is the BBC on the side of the  looters and those  who seem hell bent on destroying their own communities and local businesses.? Local authorities across the country freely hand over CCTV footage to the Police so criminals can be identified. The BBC should follow the lead of local Councils and not obstruct the identification of mindless thugs who loot, destroy and create havoc."

Yours faithfully,

Brian Silvester

Cllr Brian Silvester BA (Hons)

Willaston and Rope Ward

Cheshire East Council

Tel/fax 01270 567757