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No charges over mosque programme Channel 4 accused of 'distortion'
(21 minutes later)
Charges will not be brought against preachers featured in a Channel 4 Dispatches programme which looked at allegations of extremism in mosques. Police are reporting Channel 4 to industry regulator Ofcom over the way an undercover programme was edited.
West Midlands Police carried out an investigation into three speakers and their comments in the programme Undercover Mosque broadcast in January. But charges will not be brought against preachers featured in the Dispatches programme which looked at allegations of extremism in mosques.
The CPS said the programme spliced together speech extracts completely distorting what the speakers said. West Midlands Police carried out an investigation into three speakers in the programme Undercover Mosque.
West Midlands Police said it was reporting the matter to Ofcom. The Crown Prosecution Service says the programme "completely distorted" what the speakers said.
The CPS said there was not enough evidence to bring charges. In this case we have been dealing with a heavily edited television programme, apparently taking out of context aspects of speeches Bethan David, CPS lawyer In a statement Channel 4 spokesman Gavin Dawson said: "We believe the offensive views expressed by the people revealed in the programme speak for themselves.
"We didn't put these words into people's mouths and all extracts were carefully contextualised.
"The West Midlands Police have provided no evidence whatsoever to support their allegations."
The programme investigated a number of mosques run by organisations claiming to be dedicated to moderation and dialogue with other faiths.The programme investigated a number of mosques run by organisations claiming to be dedicated to moderation and dialogue with other faiths.
An undercover reporter claimed to provide evidence that certain speakers preached messages of religious bigotry and extremism.An undercover reporter claimed to provide evidence that certain speakers preached messages of religious bigotry and extremism.
In this case we have been dealing with a heavily edited television programme, apparently taking out of context aspects of speeches Bethan David, CPS lawyer
The Channel 4 Dispatches website, in a piece about the programme, said the reporter had attended talks at mosques and found preachers "condemning the idea of integration into British society, condemning British democracy as unIslamic and praising the Taliban for killing British soliders".The Channel 4 Dispatches website, in a piece about the programme, said the reporter had attended talks at mosques and found preachers "condemning the idea of integration into British society, condemning British democracy as unIslamic and praising the Taliban for killing British soliders".
Police said they acknowledged some parts of the programme may have been considered offensive, but, when analysed in full context, there was not enough evidence to bring charges.Police said they acknowledged some parts of the programme may have been considered offensive, but, when analysed in full context, there was not enough evidence to bring charges.
CPS lawyer Bethan David said: "The splicing together of extracts from longer speeches appears to have completely distorted what the speakers were saying. The investigation was then extended to include looking at issues relating to the editing and portrayal of the programme.
CPS lawyer Bethan David considered 56 hours of media footage of which only a part was used in the programme.
She said: "The splicing together of extracts from longer speeches appears to have completely distorted what the speakers were saying.
"The CPS has demonstrated it will not hesitate to prosecute those responsible for criminal incitement."The CPS has demonstrated it will not hesitate to prosecute those responsible for criminal incitement.
"But in this case we have been dealing with a heavily edited television programme, apparently taking out of context aspects of speeches which in their totality could never provide a realistic prospect of any convictions.""But in this case we have been dealing with a heavily edited television programme, apparently taking out of context aspects of speeches which in their totality could never provide a realistic prospect of any convictions."
Police also asked the CPS to consider a prosecution for including material likely to stir up racial hatred but again were advised there was insufficient evidence.Police also asked the CPS to consider a prosecution for including material likely to stir up racial hatred but again were advised there was insufficient evidence.