Statement: Channel 4 Big Brother

04/07
18 January 2007

Speaking today about the treatment of Shilpa Shetty in the Big Brother house, Metropolitan Police Authority magistrate member Aneeta Prem said:

“I am appalled by the behaviour of some participants on Big Brother and equally appalled by the lack of action being taken by Channel 4 to address the issue.

“I have received numerous calls and emails in relation to incidents of racism Shilpa Shetty has been subjected to and will be contacting colleagues at Hertfordshire Police Authority, whose jurisdiction the Big Brother House falls under, to voice my concerns and those of the public.

“The Macpherson Inquiry Report defines a racist incident as any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person, a stance that is supported by the spirit of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, and Section 22 of the Public Order Act 1986 states that the use of threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour can result in prosecution, especially, as is being demonstrated in Big Brother, when this is linked to racial insults, harassment and bullying.

“It is clear to me then that, with over 20,000 people having reportedly made complaints about the behaviour they have observed, and the broadcast behaviour of certain Big Brother participants towards her, the treatment Shilpa Shetty has received constitutes racism.

“For some people to claim it amounts to no more than school playground bullying simply condones this unacceptable behaviour. We should not forget that bullying in schools, work or in any other place is corrosive and damaging, both for the individual on the receiving end and the wider community. In the most tragic instances, young people have been known to commit suicide following sustained bullying at school.”

Commenting on the reluctance of Channel 4 to make a quick intervention, Aneeta continued:

“If Channel 4 continues to allow the behaviour, comments and use of language we have seen to continue unchecked the company would be seen to be condoning bullying and racism. In my view, the behaviour we have seen illustrates the latent racist attitudes that exist within some sections of society.”

Aneeta continued that, as a British Indian woman descended from Himachal Pradesh in northern India, she has experienced both blatant and covert racism in Britain:

“I am not shocked by what is happening on Big Brother but I am very saddened. If people put themselves before the public as role models, they have a duty in my opinion to portray positive values of our multi-cultural society.

“I and members of the London Race Hate Crime Forum are extremely concerned about the effect this will have on children and young people, both in terms of influencing their behaviour and, especially for those from black and minority ethnic communities, the treatment they experience in our schools.

“The way forward is to tackle ignorance and intolerance by improving education and awareness in the community and in our schools. We all have a responsibility to challenge racist bigoted comments that are harmful.”

Peter Herbert, chair of the London Race Hate Crime Forum said:

“This behaviour must not be condoned by Channel 4 doing nothing and using the excuse that up until recently there has been no overt racism. The programme owes a duty of care to all its contestants and should not allow participants to be racially abused in a cynical attempt to boost ratings.

“The London Race Hate Crime Forum, the Police, local authorities and other partner agencies have been working hard to positively address issues of race and other hate crimes. The Forum wants to send out the strong message that behaviour such as we have witnessed on Big Brother is totally unacceptable in our society.”

Notes to editors

1. Aneeta Prem, is an magistrate MPA member and link member for the London boroughs of Havering, Newham and Redbridge.

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