Programme-Makers Undertaking Activities with may Amount to an Offence

When filming any criminal activity, there is always a risk that programme makers may get arrested, particularly if there is confusion about the programme-maker's role and whether they may be involved in the particular criminal activity. To minimise this risk, there are rules of best practice that programme-makers should follow.

However, from time to time programme-makers may deliberately undertake activities which put them at real risk of being arrested and charged with a criminal offence, for example in undercover operations, where an undercover journalist comes into possession of drugs or stolen property for the very purpose of exposing the illegal activity. Such programmes require very careful consideration, research and preparation and must not be undertaken before legal advice has been sought.