One of the most interesting things about running to be the Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicestershire and Rutland is that I get to meet all sorts of people, and learn about a wide range of different lifestyles.
Take pig farming, for instance. When I was chatting to a farmer just last week I was expecting to hear about his pig, his business and the state of the market for pigs – I did not expect him to start bending my ear about a TV programme on Channel 4. “Irresponsible” and “stupid” were the milder words he used to describe this show.
What had caused his anger?
The answer is a programme called “How to steal pigs and influence people”. And my farmer friend was quite right. It is irresponsible, to say the least. The documentary follows a gang of vegan activists who launch attacks on farms to steal pigs, often inflicting serious damage as they do so, and who then post videos and photos of their exploits on-line.
The UK’s four farm unions have issued a joint statement voicing deep concern about the programme. The criminal behaviour it showed has a “dreadful impact” on farmers, their families, business and livestock, said the NFU, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland and the Ulster Farmers Union.
“We believe the title and trailers for How to Steal Pigs and Influence People – with promotional wording talking about ‘daring farmyard heists’ – shows that the programme makers regard this illegal activity as trivial and humorous,” said the statement.
It added: “We do not understand why farming families are being seen as fair game by the broadcaster and treated differently from other British citizens, who all have the right to be protected from criminal behaviour and not to see those criminals given airtime and profile.”
Well, quite!
Any TV programme that shows the viewer how to commit a crime, and which implies that the crime is somehow glamorous must be condemned. I really do wonder what Channel 4 was thinking when they broadcast this. And that’s before you consider the potential for intruders to spread animal diseases if they don’t – as they surely do not – take sensible precautions.
Rural crime is already a growing problem in Leicestershire and Rutland. We don’t need to add to the problems of those in rural areas by encouraging this sort of criminal behaviour.
It is fair to note that Channel 4 have defended the programme. You can read their comments here: https://www.fwi.co.uk/livestock/pigs/channel-4-defends-how-to-steal-pig…
Photo : By Mark Peters from Baltimore, USA - Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11762434
