http://www.tntfinder.com/news/abrupt-en ... 9.facebookAbrupt end to Crime Watch on TV6, according to Attorney
Crime Watch show, which was hosted on CCN TV6 for 2 years this month, has come to an abrupt end.
The news was posted by Attorney for the host of the show Om Lalla on Thursday which stated: “Crime watch comes to an end today on TV6. Many tnks to all for the support”.
Lalla, the Attorney of the show’s host Ian Alleyne, has been a regular feature guest and stand- in host on the show.
Many viewers of the show this week observed it was off the air since Wednesday, mere days after it was the source of an insensitive rumour which spread throughout the Caribbean region about former Prime Minister Patrick Manning.
Source of rumour
On Tuesday the rumour was made by a caller on the live show who stated the former Prime Minister and current Member of Parliament for San Fernando East was dead.
The 'news' spread like wildfire throughout media houses, social media and reached many throughout the region within 1 hour.
The rumour was initially feared to be true, since the former Prime Minister has been recovering after suffering a stroke in 2012 and was recently hospitalised after a second seizure recently.
A visibly frail Manning, who was surprised by the rumour, made a public appearance in Port-of-Spain this week dispelling the myth.
The Crime Watch show was criticised for not implementing a 3-5 second delay mechanism, which could have avoided the rumour.
The ‘delay mechanism’ allows the technical producer of any live television or radio broadcast to monitor calls and gives the power to cut any calls deemed offensive.
Breach sexual, telecommunications Acts
In October 2011 the controversial and colourful Crime Watch show host himself Alleyne was in hot water when he faced charges which challenged the shows’ broadcast ethics after it repeatedly aired a telephone video of a 13 year old girl being gang raped.
The broadcast was a breach of the laws governing sexual offences and also placed CCN TV6 in violation of nine charges under the Telecommunications Act.
The company has however maintained not guilty pleas on all nine charges.
Attorney Lalla had submitted that Alleyne was not malicious in his intent, and was seeking justice for the girl.
Alleyne pleaded guilty to airing the video on three separate occasions during his programme and was fined $30,000.00 or serve 72 months in prison.
Under Section 32 (2) of the Sexual Offences Act, it is an offence to reveal the identity of a rape victim. The legislation reads "A person who publishes or broadcasts any matter contrary to subsection 1 is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of twenty-five thousand dollars and to imprisonment for five years."
Move to TV6; Fired from WIN
The show was welcomed to CCN TV 6 on April 11 2011. It promised to raise ratings with its ‘reality type’ of focus as it highlights the plight of the public affected by crime.
Alleyne was fired from the World Indian Network (WIN) TV in February 2011. Alleyne, who is also president of Trinidad and Tobago Crime Watch, shot into the spotlight nationally with the Crime Watch programme, in which he investigated hundreds of matters and assisted the police in arrests of suspects.
