Ofcom to investigate Channel 4’s Benefits Street
Channel 4 is to be subject to an investigation by broadcasting regulator Ofcom over concerns that it broke rules governing the depiction of crimes on screen during its fly-on-the-wall documentary series Benefits Street.
The regulator will also seek to ascertain whether the show misled viewers by presenting a false depiction of the lives of people claiming benefits, as well as whether sufficient support was provided to those aged 18 and under.
A total of 1,800 people complained to Ofcom and Channel 4 about the programme on this basis but it proved to be a ratings smash for the network, drawing 4m viewers for its final episode.
An Ofcom spokesperson said: "Following the conclusion of Benefits Street, Ofcom can confirm that it has launched an investigation into the series."
Channel 4 has confirmed that it has already commissioned a second series of the show, which will be filmed outside Birmingham with a spokesperson saying: “The first series ignited an important debate about the welfare system, and we are interested in seeing if we can revisit this through the experiences of residents of a street in a different part of Britain."