On 19th and 20th January 2009 BBC1’ screened a drama called ‘Hunter’ which portrayed pro-life activists acting in a ruthless manner which involved kidnapping children in order to advance their ideology. The pro-life movement was also unfairly caricatured as being judgmental and vindictive towards women.
The storyline is about a police search for the kidnappers of two small boys. After a lengthy introduction, some horrible shots of the boys drugged in hospital beds are sent around to all the usual media outlets, followed by a hooded person delivering a package to the BBC Centre. The package contains an anti-abortion video which includes abortion footage. Police officers eventually watch the video. We do not see the content. The kidnappers’ stipulate that unless the video is shown on the BBC News, the two boys will be killed. There are references to ‘religious’, and the boys having bedcovers with ‘Sac’ on one and ‘Red’ on the other. We also learn that both their mothers have had abortions. There is a clear distinction in the drama of ‘who is good and who is evil’ with the pro-life movement painted as evil. One of the boys is murdered.
The BBC has produced a scandalous misrepresentation of prolife politics and there is nothing in this drama which has any relationship to the abortion debate conducted in the United Kingdom. It is fairly obvious from that pro-life people do not threaten children or intimidate women but do their best to protect them and are committed to defend vulnerable human beings.
You can complain against the drama on-line and obtain further information at: www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/ . Your complaint must be done within 30 days. You can either (1) make a complaint via this website; or (2) ring BBC Information on 03700 100 222 (UK-wide rate charged at no more than 01/02 geographic numbers; calls may be recorded for training); or (3) write to BBC Complaints, P0 Box 1922, Glasgow G2 3WT.
You can also complain to the broadcasting regulator Ofcom about editorial standards in radio and television broadcasts (but not online items or the World Service). Ofcom takes complaints about BBC issues except impartiality, inaccuracy and some commercial issues which remain the responsibility of the BBC Trust. Visit the Ofcom website to read about its remit and how to complain: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/complain/