How to Steal Pigs: Unions call for Channel 4 to pass information to police

Written by Rachel Martin

UK farming unions have called for the makers of Channel 4 documentary ‘How to Steal Pigs and Influence People’ to pass information relating to illegal activities shown in the programme to police.

The programme is due to air tonight (January 14) at 10:00pm.

It comes after vegan protesters seemingly inspired by the programme took a pig from a farm in Northern Ireland today.

Despite complaints from farmers and agricultural lobby bodies, Ofcom has refused to step in to stop the broadcast declaring itself a ‘post-broadcast regulator’.

A Channel 4 spokeswoman confirmed to AgriLand that it still planned to broadcast the programme despite the incident.

She said: “This is an observational documentary on a relevant and topical subject which is widely discussed.

The programme complies with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code and does not condone or encourage criminal activity. The documentary will air as planned.

A joint statement from NFU, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland and the Ulster Farmers Union read: “We are deeply concerned that Channel 4 is broadcasting this documentary, despite being contacted beforehand by those involved in the farming industry who know only too well the very real impact that this kind of criminal behaviour has on farmers, their families, their business and the health and welfare of their animals.

“We believe that 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.

“Channel 4 has said the programme will not glamorise or condone illegal activity. We are interested to know how this statement is compatible with its own admission that the documentary will feature illegal activity by activists.

We want to understand what efforts the broadcaster has gone to pass information on to the police regarding any criminal behaviour it has either filmed or featured in the programme.

“Farms are not only businesses, but they are also homes for families. It is quite astonishing that Channel 4 has chosen to commission and broadcast this programme given the dreadful impact that these attacks have on the health and wellbeing of those farmers targeted.

“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.

“We fully support the actions of the NPA who are taking legal advice regarding this programme.”

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[FonterraFarmer]

Written by Rachel Martin

UK farming unions have called for the makers of Channel 4 documentary ‘How to Steal Pigs and Influence People’ to pass information relating to illegal activities shown in the programme to police.

The programme is due to air tonight (January 14) at 10:00pm.

It comes after vegan protesters seemingly inspired by the programme took a pig from a farm in Northern Ireland today.

Despite complaints from farmers and agricultural lobby bodies, Ofcom has refused to step in to stop the broadcast declaring itself a ‘post-broadcast regulator’.

A Channel 4 spokeswoman confirmed to AgriLand that it still planned to broadcast the programme despite the incident.

She said: “This is an observational documentary on a relevant and topical subject which is widely discussed.



A joint statement from NFU, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland and the Ulster Farmers Union read: “We are deeply concerned that Channel 4 is broadcasting this documentary, despite being contacted beforehand by those involved in the farming industry who know only too well the very real impact that this kind of criminal behaviour has on farmers, their families, their business and the health and welfare of their animals.

“We believe that 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.

“Channel 4 has said the programme will not glamorise or condone illegal activity. We are interested to know how this statement is compatible with its own admission that the documentary will feature illegal activity by activists.



“Farms are not only businesses, but they are also homes for families. It is quite astonishing that Channel 4 has chosen to commission and broadcast this programme given the dreadful impact that these attacks have on the health and wellbeing of those farmers targeted.

“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.

“We fully support the actions of the NPA who are taking legal advice regarding this programme.”

The post How to Steal Pigs: Unions call for Channel 4 to pass information to police appeared first on Agriland.co.uk.

Continue reading on the Agriland Website...

It appears that it might be time to "fight fire with fire"...time for primary industry's to take direct action at Channel 4 ,BBC and the like.
As the quote from Brotown ,"Since when did nonviolence ever solve any problems", not advocating violence but more like a direct ,physical appearance...?

 

[Steevo]

I doubt C4 would be so keen to so a documentary based around race, age or gender that skirted the lines to closely......seems farming is the next best thing.

 

[farmerm]

I doubt C4 would be so keen to so a documentary based around race, age or gender that skirted the lines to closely......seems farming is the next best thing.

Yesterdays vegan reporter on Jeremy vine with the piece slating slaughter houses... if she was a white racist laying a report attacking Africans, a Christian fundamentalist laying into Asians or reporting on any other issue from a clearing contradictory viewpoint.. she wouldn't have a job today, she might even have found herself in court.

 

[Katarina]

Stealing is a crime as is illegally entering private property.

Channel 4 is advocating people to break the law and promoting an agenda .

Hope the police will do there job and uphold the law and prosecute these extremists swiftly.

 

[Wurzeetoo]

I watched it today to see what it was all about I’m fairly open minded as long as there’s common sense behind it. I couldn’t see anything other than a bunch of nut jobs with the main subject on some entrepreneurial streak to earn 10k a month from his trespass and theft of livestock footage. I understand livelihoods are at stake and farming is being used as a verbal punchbag because it’s trendy at the moment however I cannot under any circumstances understand the logic or actions of these people, millions all over the world have actual struggles that given the chance of some tv coverage would hopefully have conducted themselves far better than both the vegans and raw meat eaters did! I know that channel 4 have a vested interest in a vegan food line however the style of documentary shot made it impossible to see the subjects as anything other than morons, ironically they seem to behave as sheep all following the leader into some unknown possible cliff face until either another leader takes over and decides everyone should now shave their heads and spin in circles as it will be cool and edgy

 

[Adam16]

I have to admit that I didn't see ALL of the programme however ffrom what I did see, it seemed to glorify illegal activity - trespass and stealing and also animal cruelty - taking a pig from it's mother and then it dies. What was the moron going to do with a piglet if he hadn't killed it and it grew up to be a full-sized animal? Surely the RSPCSA should be prosecuting the morons concerned?