[Mrluvaluva]

From Sy News:

Updated: 14:44, Friday March 09, 2007

No arrests will be made relating to the Big Brother racism row, Herts police have confirmed.

The Crown Prosecution Service has decided that what occurred was "clearly offensive" but "not criminal".

The row sparked a diplomatic incident following the treatment of the Channel 4 show's eventual winner Shilpa Shetty.

Hertfordshire Police said: "Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, it was felt that it would not be in the public interest to effect arrests or to pursue footage through the courts."

Detective Inspector Jeeta Aulak, who ran the inquiry, said: "The investigation was balanced, considering all complaints received.

"During inquiries, we liaised with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE). This was to ensure that all issues were considered and responded to.

"The CRE were happy with our response and investigation."

Assistant Chief Constable Simon Parr said: "Our investigation has now concluded and a file has been handed across to the CPS.

"In the absence of complaint from any of the housemates regarding behaviour - including behaviour that was not broadcast - the CPS has concluded that whilst what occurred was clearly offensive, it was not criminal."

[GiRTh]

What do you expect. I bet Jades people had something to do with it.

[Mrluvaluva]

Ahhh! PR oppurtunity missed for her there!

[Red Moon]

No charges over Big Brother row

o criminal charges will be brought in connection with the Big Brother racism row, Hertfordshire Police has said.

The Crown Prosecution Service has decided that what occurred was "clearly offensive" but "not criminal".

The inquiry centred on a series of clashes between Shilpa Shetty and three other housemates - Jade Goody, Jo O'Meara and Danielle Lloyd.

The row sparked a diplomatic incident following the treatment of Shetty, who went on to win the Channel 4 show.

The police force said programme-makers Endemol and Channel 4 had "declined to co-operate" with their requests for unedited footage from the programme.

But the constabulary decided it was not in the public interest to make arrests or pursue footage through the courts.

'Further footage'

"In response to Herfordshire Police's statement issued today, Channel 4 was in an ongoing dialogue with the police and provided them with access to many hours of broadcast programmes.

"A substantial amount of further footage was requested and our policy, consistent with that of all broadcasters, is to require the police to obtain a court order before such material is handed over," he added.

The police said they wanted to speak to six of the former housemates but Goody and her mother, Jackiey Budden, who also appeared in the show, declined.

One of those who was interviewed was model Danielle Lloyd, who asked to meet the police herself.

"During the interviews, everybody stated that they had not witnessed or perceived they were a victim of any racist behaviour," the police statement said.

'What we expected'

Shetty's spokesman Max Clifford said: "This is exactly what we expected. It won't take anybody by surprise. But millions of people saw and heard for themselves so I suppose that's the nearest we'll get to justice."

Tens of thousands of viewers complained about the way Lloyd, TV star Goody and singer O'Meara treated Shetty in the reality show's celebrity version.

Goody was seen calling the Bollywood star "Shilpa Poppadom" while former model Danielle Lloyd declared the actress should "go home".

O'Meara imitated Shetty's accent and said Indians were thin because they undercooked chicken.

'Fairness and tolerance'

All three contestants have since denied racism and have apologised for their actions.

Their behaviour caused a media furore and led to politicians entering the row.

Chancellor Gordon Brown said the issue had been raised repeatedly during a trip he took to India while the series was running, adding that Britain should be "seen as a country of fairness and tolerance".

Shetty was shown around the House of Commons by Labour MP Keith Vaz, where she had a brief meeting with Tony Blair.

Carphone Warehouse recently announced it would be dropping its Ł3m sponsorship of Big Brother in the wake of the row.

Source:BBC News

[rayofsunshine]

The Crown Prosecution Service has decided that what occurred was "clearly offensive" but "not criminal".

As an American who is fascinated by racism being "criminal" what would make it criminal?

[Red Moon]

This might help:

There are a number of definitions of racism.

Racism can be described as:

“… the theory or idea that there is a causal link between inherited physical traits and certain traits of personality, intellect or culture, combined with the notion that some races are inherently superior to other…”

Racism can also be defined as:

“…the transformation of individuals and institutions/organisations of prejudice based on race through the exercise of authority against another person or group defined as inferior with the intentional or unintentional support of the culture…”

Source: Northamptonshire Police

[Ruth]

Apparently Jade and her mother refused to talk to the police, and Endemol refused to hand over unseen footage. Why would Endemol do that unless there was something that they didn't want seen?

[nodisharmony]

Originally posted by Ruth
Apparently Jade and her mother refused to talk to the police, and Endemol refused to hand over unseen footage. Why would Endemol do that unless there was something that they didn't want seen?

Hi Ruth.

You are right with your suspicions of the whole situation.

It looks very fishy and also like possible corruption??


Sadly for anybody reading all this, we can only guess that their was corruption and cannot prove it.

Jade Goody & Endemol have a very good team of advisors and also solicitors. When you are very wealthy, then it is obvious that you pay for the best.

The end result, is, that Endemol have come out of this squeaky clean and there is a green light for Big Brother 8.

[Emilee]

NON of them really deserved to be arrested for it.

[andybigbro]

Totally Agree Emilee

i have heard worse things than What they said about Shilpa

[James]

Let's try and stay on topic this time. A few posts have been deleted to stop another fight breaking out.

[spacebandit]

One law for the rich and alleged celebrities.

Look what footballers get away with in court for g*ds sake.

Its only a matter of time before someone gets arrested on a race hate charge, and they will have said the exact same things or very very similar to what was said in the house.

It'll be an ordinary member of Joe Public - and when they are prosecuted the defence will have a field day.

On the plus side - the cult of celebrity doesn't have too long left before its implosion, there will be one too many smug "celeb" walking smiling away from a court, then pictured in a pub a few minutes later laughing their pods off before one of the "ordinary people" at the butt end of their activities goes postal on them ......

[Evilempressrose]

It is a very difficult law to enforce. It is ambiguous in it's scope. I don't think it is a question of rich celeb/poor citizen at the moment. It is a legal grey area that helps no one.

[spacebandit]

Originally posted by Evilempressrose
It is a very difficult law to enforce. It is ambiguous in it's scope. I don't think it is a question of rich celeb/poor citizen at the moment. It is a legal grey area that helps no one.

really - lets say you and your friends are arguing with someone of asian descent in the street and there is CCTV. It shows a lot of general argy bargy, racist abuse, pushing and shoving by you and your friends of a person of asian origin... lets then assume that you all go off camera in an alleyway for less than a minute, actually its about 45 seconds,
the police arrive - the person of asian descent has had a good kicking, he's going to hospital, the police arrest you and your friends the victim when interviewed later says you all beat him up.

What do you think the chances are that you, Joe Public and friends will get convicted of assault, though the 45 second break in CCTV footage deosn;t show the actual assault, although everything else is....

and what would the chances of conviction be of....oh, lets say, off the top of my head, a couple of premier league footballers......

marks out of 10 for conviction of joe public....

marks out of 10 for conviction of footballers....

[Evilempressrose]

You are confusing race relations legistlation with criminal assault.

[spacebandit]

Originally posted by Evilempressrose
You are confusing race relations legistlation with criminal assault.

No, were talking about no arrests for racially motivated bullying, and race speech , which by default also would include no prosection therfore no conviction.

My point is that the cult of celebrity in this country is putting them above the law in certain respects.

My point is that if you are a celebrity you have a much better chance of not being arrested or prosecuted for a crime than if you are a member of Joe Public.

Imagine the pplice investigate a possible crime, tell me do you believe YOU would be able to refuse a police interview ?

If the police suspected you may have material evidence that may prove or even disprove a crime, e.g. a videotape, do you really believe you would get away with refusing to hand it over ?

Or would the police get a warrant and search your house and place of work against your wishes but under force of law ?

[Evilempressrose]

I think you are beyond yourself, law appiles equally, right or wrong. In similar cirumstances, anyone would have the same rights.

[spacebandit]

Originally posted by Evilempressrose
I think you are beyond yourself, law appiles equally, right or wrong. In similar cirumstances, anyone would have the same rights.

Jade Goody and her mother "refused" to give the police an interview

Why where they not compelled ?

I ask again, do you believe YOU could refuse an interview with the police if they were investigating an alleged crime ?


Endemol "refused" to hand over videotapes,

Why were they not compelled ?

I ask again, do you believe YOU could refuse to hand over material evidence to the police that may prove or even disprove a crime ??

[Evilempressrose]

In identical circumstances, obviously it IS lawful to refuse an interview.

[spacebandit]

Originally posted by Evilempressrose
In identical circumstances, obviously it IS lawful to refuse an interview.

What would those circumstances be ?

I never said it was unlawful to refuse an interview, though one could always speculate as to why there was non-copoeration with the police.

I asked why the police did not compel an interview - to refuse would then be unlawful.

Imagine if you get attacked in the street tomorrow, and the police cannot capture the attacker as the bus stop full of eye -witnesses refuse to give an interview.

I wonder what your opinion would be of those people for not co-operating ?

[nodisharmony]

Originally posted by spacebandit
One law for the rich and alleged celebrities.

Look what footballers get away with in court for g*ds sake.

Its only a matter of time before someone gets arrested on a race hate charge, and they will have said the exact same things or very very similar to what was said in the house.

It'll be an ordinary member of Joe Public - and when they are prosecuted the defence will have a field day.

On the plus side - the cult of celebrity doesn't have too long left before its implosion, there will be one too many smug "celeb" walking smiling away from a court, then pictured in a pub a few minutes later laughing their pods off before one of the "ordinary people" at the butt end of their activities goes postal on them ......

It does seem that there is one law for celebrities and people in the media spotlight, as the newspapers always zone in on them.

If an old man living in liverpool says a few racist comments to an Indian woman in a pub there, nobody would make a big fuss over it. But, if someone did make a case, there would be very little interest really.

It would hardly make the newspapers or be blast all out of proportion, which is what Jade & the girls situation has done.

Footballers can get away with stuff, especially when they have a good solicitor and the evidence is very poor. Of course, if they are very guilty and evidence is concrete, they will be prosecuted.

_______________________________________________

In a pub, they may be laughing and joking, but it doesn't mean to say that they were laughing and joking about words that were said on a reality show which certain people found offensive.

They could be talking about something else and drink can make you laugh more to comments being aired by your friends anyway. No matter what they say.

They can just say that they were drunk and didn't realise as they were out of control at the time in the pub.

They would be excused.

[nodisharmony]

Originally posted by Evilempressrose
It is a very difficult law to enforce. It is ambiguous in it's scope. I don't think it is a question of rich celeb/poor citizen at the moment. It is a legal grey area that helps no one.

It is a very hard law to enforce.

When you are filmed on a completely unedited show and the comments said are definately racial without any doubt whatsoever, then a definite prosecution is usually the outcome.

On the Celebrity Big Brother show in January, It was a much different situation.

Endemol apparently, had the un-cut tapes from the show, but, those tapes were not in the possession of the police at any time and they can only look at the evidence which is there in front of them.

The investigation focused on the evidence which they had and looking at all the words and sentances which may have sounded like they had racial-overtones, was not enough to arrive at a prosecution.

Shilpa Shetty has said that she did not wish to make a complaint.

The main reason, "possibly", is, that Shilpa may had considered one person should take the entire blame, but, the comments from Danielle Lloyd sounded worse than what any of the other two girls. and Shilpa has made it known that she says that, she forgave Danielle Lloyd the most as she is younger and more naive than the other two.

[nodisharmony]

Originally posted by spacebandit

Jade Goody and her mother "refused" to give the police an interview

Why where they not compelled ?

I ask again, do you believe YOU could refuse an interview with the police if they were investigating an alleged crime ?


Endemol "refused" to hand over videotapes,

Why were they not compelled ?

I ask again, do you believe YOU could refuse to hand over material evidence to the police that may prove or even disprove a crime ??

Jade & Jackyie have advisors and they take their advice.

They may say something which could go against them and do have the right to wait until it is the right moment and have all been briefed fully.

This is NOT unusual in any case like this. Jade is no different.

Endemol chose to not hand over those uncut tapes, as their solicitors and advisors would advise them not to.

They did say, however, if a court-order was issued for the un-cut tapes, then they would hand them over.

[Ruth]

Originally posted by Evilempressrose
I think you are beyond yourself, law appiles equally, right or wrong. In similar cirumstances, anyone would have the same rights.

I don't mean to sound rude here, but although I agree that in an ideal world, everyone would be treated the same in such situations, we don't live in an ideal world. It is one rule for the rich and famous and another rule for Joe Public.

[Evilempressrose]

I disagree, in such a high profile case wealth and celebrity would be a reason to proceed not a deterrent.