Undercover reporter sues police
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Undercover TV reporter Donal MacIntyre today launched a libel action against a police force over remarks it made about his investigation into a care home.
Undercover TV reporter Donal MacIntyre today launched a libel action against a police force over remarks it made about his investigation into a care home.
MacIntyre said his reputation as a journalist was damaged by Kent Police claims that his controversial documentary about alleged abuse was misleading.
The Chief Constable of Kent was served with a writ this morning, MacIntyre announced outside BBC Broadcasting House in London.
A Kent Police spokesman said the force would "vigorously" contest the action.
The clash between MacIntyre and Kent Police erupted over an episode last year of the BBC's flagship MacIntyre Undercover series in which the reporter investigated the Brompton Care Home in Gillingham, Kent.
He claimed to have unearthed a culture of neglect, and within 24 hours of the secretly-filmed programme, Medway Social Services closed the home down.
Police launched an investigation but, after several weeks, detectives announced that their findings "paint a very different picture to the one we expected to find".
Only two people were cautioned for minor assaults and the force said it was considering suing to recover £50,000 for the cost of the police investigation.
Detectives criticised the documentary makers for "misleading" editing of the 41 hours of footage from hidden cameras.
Today, MacIntyre said it was "a matter of personal regret" that he had found it necessary to issue legal proceedings.
"The proceedings relate to defamatory comments made by his officers and officials of Kent Police about an edition of the MacIntyre Undercover programme which investigated abuse and a culture of neglect in the privately run Brompton care home in Kent," he said.
"The programme prompted an independent investigation into standards at the home by Medway Council which led to the closure of the establishment."
He said legal action was not a course he had taken lightly, adding: "However, Kent Police have declined to retract their allegations despite being given every opportunity to do so.
"In making these allegations, they have both damaged my personal reputation as a journalist and brought the reputation of the BBC's journalism into question."
Kent Police confirmed that the force had received a writ naming Chief Constable Sir David Phillips, Detective Sergeant Michael Costello, and the force's media services manager, Mark Pugash.
Mr Pugash said today: "We will be contesting this vigorously."
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments