Judgment Approved by the court for handing down.
Ali & Aslam v Channel 5 Broadcasting Ltd
“He's already got another house to go to, so he doesn't need it,
he's already renting another house … they keep shutting the
door because they're up to something in there, that they want to
put their possessions away or their thousands of money that
they've probably collected from all the sub-tenants … And he's
supposed to be a main UK spokesman on Muslim League N.
Isn't that right Mr Shakir Qureshi?”
24.
In response to that, Bohill remarked:
“So he's the UK representative of that political party. So he
should actually be setting an example which in these
circumstances doesn't appear to be the case".
Omar Ahmed agreed.
25.
Soon after, two police officers, PCs Stowers and Smith, arrived. They were asked for
their consent to be filmed. Smith initially said he did not want to be filmed and Mr
Rea offered to “blur” him. Bohill explained to the police officers what they were
doing. Stowers asked if the tenants could be given more time but Short said they
could not, because the HCEAs had other jobs waiting. Mr Short explained that the
programme would be shown in July and would be “interesting” because there was “a
bit of conflict between these two”.
26.
There were further exchanges with the police officers, Bohill and passers-by. Bohill
again made remarks sympathetic to the landlord.
27.
At 9:10, police officers were filmed telling the Claimants they had five minutes to
leave. The Claimants were then filmed through the open doorway, packing, including
packing a “large box of medication”. Just after, Mrs Aslam asked the crew to stop
filming, but they carried on. It was explained that the Claimants’ children had gone to
school. There was a further request from Mrs Aslam to stop filming, or to “blur over
face okay”. Mr Rea declined. Mrs Aslam shut the bedroom door.
28.
The police officers then both agreed to be filmed, at 9:18. Rashid Ahmed was asked
about his feelings and explained he was happy to get his “house back”.
29.
The judgment sets out further exchanges as matters proceeded. Bohill expressed to
the Ahmeds that their participation “can make good television … telling the other side
of the story”. At 9:28 a member of the crew emerged and said the Claimants were
coming out, and Mr Ali “does want to speak to camera”. The officers helped the
Claimants with baggage. There was further conversation to the effect that there were
“two sides to every story” and “you [the Claimants] can put your side of the story to
them”.
30.
There was then an interview with Mr Ali, which the judge summarised as follows:
“106. … Mr Ali: denied subletting the Property; accused Omar
Ahmed of lying; said that he got into rent arrears of £4-5000
because he was on a low income and his circumstances had got
worse due to him being a heart patient; that, after the court
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