Channel 4 series defended by police after being accused of ‘bashing’ UK town

Channel 4 has been defended by Bedfordshire Police after a local council accused the series 24 Hours in Police Custody of ‘damaging the reputation’ of a town.

First airing in 2014, the documentary series primarily follows Bedfordshire Police as they investigate cases in Luton.

There have been 10 seasons and 22 specials to date, with investigations into crimes includingmurders, drug smuggling, sexual assaults and armed sieges all being the focus of multiple episodes.

However, now the Luton Borough Council has urged the police force to stop working with the broadcaster.

Last week a draft letter was leaked that showed the local government urging the chief constable and the police and crime commissioner to cease involvement on the series.

The letter, seen by the BBC’s Local Democracy Reporting Service, described the show as a ‘kick in the teeth’ and claimed it fuelled ‘Luton-bashing’.

‘Every week when this programme airs to millions of people across the UK, it fuels the “Luton-bashing” we have become accustomed to, which further damages our reputation,’ it read.

‘This kind of negativity affects our community’s sense of identity and purpose, in limiting their perception of their own lives, relationships and opportunities.’

It went on to describe the series as a ‘kick in the teeth to all of us who work hard every day to support our residents and are trying to take our town forward’.

‘We feel that it is time for Luton to end this negative relationship with wider audiences and, if the programme is to continue, for another force to feature in it.’

However, now the chief constable of Bedfordshire Police, Trevor Rodenhurst, and the county’s police and crime commissioner, John Tizard, said they remained committed to the show which made a ‘positive contribution’ to policing.

‘It sends a categoric message that criminals will not be able to operate with impunity in Luton, or anywhere in Bedfordshire, and underlines our relentless commitment to bring offenders to justice,’ the force said, as also reported by the BBC.

It also added the show gave the force a ‘platform to engage younger audiences’ and reach victims of crime.

However, they said there were plans to work with producers to ‘see what measures can be put in place to reduce any negative perceptions of the town’.

Last year 24 Hours In Police Custody was also slammed by the family of a victim whose murder was featured in an episode.

Nicholas Papworth, 33, and Anthony Bennison, 25, stabbed and ran over three victims in November 2022, with Adam Fanelli and Patrick Howard killed aged 39 and 27.

In the two-parter entitled ‘Murder on camera’ viewers were shown footage of the crime in Bedfordshire’s Houghton Regis.

The editorial choice was then criticised by user Holly Marie on X, who claimed that one of the victims is her cousin.

‘So much wasn’t shown, the police failed us on so many occasions, & the fact they showed my cousin lose his life on TV is vile. Pat was the best man, he loved his family & he deserved better than this,’ she wrote.

She went on to share that what she watched would ‘haunt me forever’.

Before the episode, Bedfordshire Police posted a warning on X: ‘It’s important that viewers are aware that this upcoming episode features scenes of extreme violence that some may find distressing or triggering.’