Police record Celebrity Big Brother abuse as a 'racial incident'
- ️https://www.theguardian.com/profile/vikramdodd
- ️Thu Jan 18 2007
Police have formally recorded the abuse Shilpa Shetty has suffered at the hands of three white Big Brother housemates as a racial incident, MediaGuardian.co.uk can reveal.
The development adds to the pressure Channel 4 faces over the row and further undermines the broadcaster's defence of the onscreen antics that have caused outrage in Britain and India.
The Big Brother home in Elstree is covered by Hertfordshire police which this morning began a criminal investigation after receiving more than 30 complaints from the public about the alleged racial abuse suffered by the Indian actress.
The definition of a racist incident is drawn deliberately wide and the abuse can be classed as a hate crime even if a third party reports it.
However, Ms Shetty's onscreen allegation broadcast on Wednesday's programme that the abuse she was suffering was racially motivated, added to the pressure for police to act.
Legal experts say the three white contestants and Channel 4 could have committed offences under the 1986 Public Order Act.
In a statement police said: "Hertfordshire Constabulary is investigating allegations of racist behaviour in the Big Brother house and will be conducting enquiries, including a review of the tapes.
"We will continue to liaise with Ofcom and with Endemol, whom we have strongly encouraged to ensure that any form of behaviour that could raise similar concerns, does not occur.
"We will continue to closely monitor the situation over the next few days.
"Hertfordshire Constabulary will not tolerate racism in any form and is taking these allegations seriously.
"The constabulary has experience of investigating and resolving incidents in the Big Brother house in past seasons."
· To contact the MediaGuardian newsdesk email editor@mediatheguardian.com or phone 020 7239 9857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 7278 2332.
· If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".