Benefits Street series 2: Producers defend open drug use and drug-dealing in new episodes

Channel 4's controversial docu-series is returning so expect more outrage soon

The first series of Benefits Street made a star of James Turner Street resident White Dee (Channel 4)

Makers of controversial docu-series Benefits Street have defended scenes of drug-dealing and drug use in the upcoming second series.

Filmed this time on Kingston Road in Stockton-on-Tees, the show follows the lives of impoverished locals, many of whom are unemployed and dependent on benefits.

One resident introduced in the first new episode is Neil Maxwell, who is shown openly bagging up cannabis, smoking it and taking pills before appearing in court.

The 35-year-old told cameramen that he took “early retirement” from crime after a string of convictions and now claims benefits because he struggles with memory loss. Subsequent scenes show him using his benefits money to top up his tan at a sunbed salon before he is sent back to prison.

Production company Love Productions insists that “strict guidelines” were followed while filming illegal activity for Benefits Street.

“We are never suggesting to Maxwell that he does this on camera, we don’t encourage him in any way, shape or form,” said Kieran Smith.

“We filmed with Maxwell for quite a long period of time and he was very clear about the potential repercussions about his behaviour and what might happen to him.

Smith added that the crew were not “glorying in his behaviour” but instead presenting “quite an honest account of what his life is like”.

The first series of Benefits Street, set in James Turner Street in Birmingham, attracted hundreds of complaints to broadcasting watchdog Ofcom, with many viewers branding it “poverty porn”.

Channel 4 was later cleared of breaching any rules and Nick Mirsky, head of documentaries, has not ruled out making a third series.

“There isn’t a third series of Benefits Street in production but what I would say is that the gap between rich and poor and the subject of welfare and benefits is an important subject,” he said.

“Channel 4 have to keep looking at that and finding ways of telling stories.”

(Additional reporting from Press Association)