Police probe boy's BBC gun claim

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/merseyside/7822092.stm

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A teenager's claim that he was paid £50 by a "fixer" to brandish guns on the BBC's Panorama programme is to be investigated by Merseyside Police.

The 17-year-old was filmed assembling a shotgun for the programme about guns and gang culture on Merseyside.

On Friday, Liverpool Crown Court heard he was paid by a leading figure in the Marsh Gang to show off the weapon.

A Merseyside Police spokeswoman said they were investigating whether they could identify those involved.

The teenage gang member, who cannot be named, admitted possession of a shotgun, a handgun and ammunition last December. He will be sentenced on 23 January.

Jason Smith, defending the youth, said: "The defence contention is not that he was paid directly by the Panorama film producers, but he was paid money by an intermediary who had been paid money to fix it on their behalf."

The Force will be contacting the BBC in light of these claims... Merseyside Police spokeswoman

Mr Smith said the intermediary, referred to in court as Male C, was a leading figure in the Marsh Gang, who gave the teenager £50 to "show off" on behalf of the gang.

"It is not suggested that the BBC or the cameraman suggested he show off the firearms," Mr Smith added.

Ian Davies, prosecuting, said the Crown accepted the teenager's version of events.

On Saturday, the police spokeswoman said the force had investigated both the criminal actions of individuals posing with guns and whether any money had been exchanged.

"During the hearing on Friday, the 17-year-old defendant claimed that he had not been paid by the BBC but had received money from an intermediary," said the spokeswoman.

"The BBC provided information during the inquiry which indicated compliance with their editorial policies.

"Merseyside Police will continue its investigation following the claims by the 17-year-old defendant, to identify those involved in alleged transactions and any offences that have been committed.

"The Force will be contacting the BBC in light of these claims, to enable them to consider any steps they need to take as a result of the disclosure by this defendant."

The BBC has maintained that it made no payments to the gunman and the programme fully complied with the BBC's editorial guidelines.

"The BBC and its journalists have co-operated fully with Merseyside Police in connection with this matter," a spokeswoman said.

"If any payments were made to the gunman, we had no knowledge of them."