ITV censured over Taggart repeats

Launched in 1983, Taggart is one of STV's most popular programmes

ITV has been criticised by broadcasting watchdog Ofcom for screening violent scenes in Scottish police drama Taggart in a mid-afternoon slot.

Screened in May and June this year, the six programmes showed characters being set on fire, setting themselves alight and being forced to ingest bleach.

STV, which compiled the programmes for ITV1, said it had edited the shows to reduce the level of violence shown.

In its monthly bulletin, however, Ofcom said the show breached its regulations.

"The graphic and brutal nature of the violent scenes... resulted in these scenes exceeding audience expectations," it said.

The programme, it ruled, "went beyond generally accepted standards for an afternoon drama."

Seizure

TV channel Five has also been censured for failing to notify viewers about programmes containing flashing images and strobe lighting effects.

Ofcom ruled Five was in breach of regulations for not broadcasting a warning prior to an episode of CSI: Crime Screen Investigation on 4 March.

"Certain types of flashing images present a danger of triggering seizures in viewers who are sensitive to photosensitive epilepsy," the watchdog said.

"Five was aware that the flashing images breached Ofcom's technical criteria but no warning was broadcast."

Five's digital channel Five US was similarly censured for a trailer for the programme True CSI that featured a fast-forwarding effect.

One viewer said the trailer had caused his wife to have a mild seizure, prompting Ofcom to exhort all broadcasters to exercise caution.

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