Croxley Green filming request turned down (From Watford Observer)
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Vandalism mock-up film for Police Crime Commissioner TV advert rejected
5:30pm Wednesday 24th October 2012 in News
By Ben Endley, Senior reporter
Film makers wanted to stage scenes of anti-social behaviour in Croxley Green for the Police Crime Commissioner television advert but were turned down because a councillor feared it would undermine the area’s low-crime reputation.
Councillor Roger Seabourne, community safety portfolio holder for Three Rivers District Council, revealed he and fellow Croxley Green representatives were approached in early September about the possibility of allowing a company working on behalf of the Home Office to erect a mock bus stop for actors to vandalise.
Councillor Seabourne told council colleagues at last night’s council meeting that he vetoed the request.
He said: "A film company commissioned by the Home Office approached us in early September, they wanted to film kids smashing up a bus stop.
"We have spent years getting crime levels to the lowest in the county so I was disappointed to learn our safer communities fund had been slashed while they decide to spend millions on these elections.
"I also feel that if you have to advertise by fear the idea you are trying to sell is not a good one."
Comments(8)
hanspancat
says...
9:18pm Wed 24 Oct 12
WatfordBandB
says...
8:46am Thu 25 Oct 12
HornetJJ wrote:Touche!!
It's not an advert for Right Move! Just because they film Eastenders in Watford doesn't make it part of the East End!!
fugu
says...
9:09am Thu 25 Oct 12
TRT
says...
11:16am Thu 25 Oct 12
The real bit of the story that's important is "... if you have to advertise by fear the idea you are trying to sell is not a good one."
And that is bang on.
We all know that such anti-social activity goes on, so if they need to show examples of it, why can't they just get some FREE CCTV FOOTAGE like they have on dozens of fly-on-the-wall or cops-on-the-box shows?
F***Me! If that candidates opponent came on and said "my rival just spent a £X filming this. I've donated the same amount to a youth club fighting to keep these kind of youths off the street, I know who'd get my vote (if I could be bothered).
Of course, I may be getting this wrong, this might be centrally funded like some kind of public information film, but even in that case the same applies. Advertising agencies... a more wretched hive etc etc.
garston tony
says...
12:23pm Thu 25 Oct 12
To be fair if the article gives the full explanation the Cllr didn’t fear a poor reflection on the area but was miffed that the anti crime budget was being slashed whilst money was being spent on elected police commisioners and he didn’t like the concept behind the advertising campaign. The headline is misleading therefore.
TRT
says...
12:31pm Thu 25 Oct 12
LSC
says...
1:08pm Thu 25 Oct 12
But there is far more to policing than that.
How many people were trafficked into Herts in the last year and forced to work as prostitutes? I have no idea.
How many cars on my street are uninsured? I have no idea.
How many people in my town are fiddling their accounts? I have no idea.
How many kids are buying alcohol from my local shop? I have no idea.
So don't ask me to vote on the best way, or the best person to tackle crime. I'll end up voting for the person who says they will tackle the CRIME I SEE OR AM AWARE OF.
That is no way to run a police force.
HornetJJ says...
7:14pm Wed 24 Oct 12