MP sees red over Mersey Blues

Mersey Blues: "An insult to the people of Merseyside"

A Liverpool MP has condemned the BBC's documentary series Mersey Blues as "an insult to the people of Merseyside".

Eddie O'Hara - MP for Knowsley South - raised the issue with junior Home Office minister Paul Boateng in the House of Commons.

The programme has been attacked for depicting Merseyside Police in an unflattering light, showing corruption and incompetence in the force.

Mr Boateng told the Commons there were fears programmes such as Mersey Blues could lead to "fearfulness and alarm".

He said: "I met recently both the chair of the police authority in Merseyside and the Chief Constable and I know they believe that programme does not represent the reality of policing in Merseyside."

Mr O'Hara told the Commons crime in Merseyside had fallen to its lowest level in 18 years.

Eddie O'Hara: Pointed out crime had fallen

He asked: "Would you therefore join with me in condemning the programme Mersey Blues, which last Wednesday described crime as a career choice on Merseyside?

"Would you agree with me that such cheap remarks are an insult to the people of Merseyside, do an injustice to Merseyside Police and undermine those of us who are trying to regenerate Merseyside with inward investment?"

Mr Boetang replied: "The sort of fearfulness and alarm that can be generated by these sort of programmes that you have referred to are, I know, a matter of concern, not least in Merseyside."

The series' producer, David Hart, has insisted the show is fair and viewers will see the positive as well as the negative sides to the police.

But Merseyside's new chief constable, Norman Bettison, has said the programme does not reflect what life is like now in the force.

Mersey Blues is currently showing at 2100 GMT on Wednesdays on BBC Two.