Undercover Copper

Channel 4 has hit back at claims made by the Independent Police Complaints Commission over an episode of Dispatches called Undercover Copper.

The film aired in April 2006 and revealed alleged apathy, sexism and bullying in the Leicestershire police force.

In one scene, officers were shown playing poker and indoor cricket. In another, one member of the force pretended he had not seen someone lying injured in the road because he had a football match to watch.

The undercover film by police officer Nina Hobson also revealed that reports of sexual assault and rape are not being taken seriously, to the extent that one of her colleagues said that if she was ever raped, she would not report it to the police.

Ms Hobson rejoined the Leicestershire police force in order to film undercover for four months for the Dispatches documentary, five years after she had left the force, disillusioned.

Following the Dispatches programme, the IPCC carried out an investigation into the allegations made in the documentary, interviewing 26 officers.

As a result of the IPCC inquiry, five officers were given formal written warnings and 14 were given "words of advice/guidance".

However, the IPCC accused Dispatches and Ms Hobson of not co-operating with its investigation.

The IPCC commissioner, Amerdeep Somal, said: "I was determined that we would undertake a robust and transparent enquiry to ensure all aspects of these claims were examined and I am confident this has happened.

It was however extremely disappointing to note that neither Nina Hobson nor Channel 4 were prepared to cooperate with our investigation."

But Channel 4 hit back, insisting it had cooperated with the IPCC. "Undercover Copper was an important investigation into an issue of major public interest. It prompted the IPCC to carry out an investigation which resulted in disciplinary procedures against 19 officers," the broadcaster said.

"We provided eight hours of untransmitted material to Leicestershire constabulary to aid in their investigation. This included the full, untransmitted footage surrounding every incident featured in the film."

Ms Somal also criticised the way the Undercover Copper was edited and the conduct of Ms Hobson.

"Some of the unedited footage we do have demonstrates that on many occasions when inappropriate behaviour was taking place, Nina Hobson was in fact the most senior officer on the shift and appeared to join in and encourage her colleagues. I would have to seriously question her role in much of what was broadcast in the programme," she said.

"The media have a duty to accurately report events that take place. I do not know what the motives of Channel 4 were for editing this programme in the way they did, as it would appear some of the footage was taken out of context. However I note with disappointment their unwillingness to co-operate with our investigation by sharing all of the unedited footage with the IPCC."

Channel 4 dismissed these claims, defending the footage used in Undercover Copper and the role of Ms Hobson.

"Viewers could see that the footage spoke for itself - all the footage was used fairly and accurately to represent the findings of the investigation," the broadcaster said.

"We are satisfied that Nina acted with the utmost integrity at all times. When witnessing bad practice by her colleagues she constantly questioned the appropriateness of their behaviour and whether it was standard practice. She was given clear instructions neither to instigate nor encourage bad behaviour."