Copycat Killers and My Conscience
The true crime genre has enjoyed a well-documented surge in popularity over recent years. In particular, streaming platforms like Netflix have enjoyed huge success with cinematic, box set series such as The Staircase, Making A Murderer, Evil Genius and, most recently, Don’t F**k With Cats.
Accompanying the True Crime content, there has been increased discussion about whether the documentaries themselves might in fact be driving fame-hungry criminals.
I don't agree, but I listen to and respect the argument, visiting the issue on a weekly basis with my team - and my conscience.
The three-part 'Cats' on Netflix tells the story of the hunt for one of Canada’s most infamous killers, Luka Magnotta, who courted internet infamy by circulating videos of himself killing kittens, and then murdering and dismembering a Chinese student. Soon after launching, Cats was listed as one of Netflix’s Top 5 most-watched documentaries.
As lead creative in a production company which made the Netflix/Discovery hit ‘Inside the Mind of a Serial Killer’, the fact that this awful man began his psychopathic life by attacking animals was no surprise. That is just one of the 'tells' which analysts discover when investigating serial killers.
What worried me is this: Which came first, the psycho or the TV programme about psychos? Do our investigations give susceptible people ideas?
Should we stop making them?
We at FirstLookTV regularly have 'conscience' meetings where we discuss why we are making our programmes. And the answer consistently comes back – because justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done
And actually, there is little evidence supporting the idea that TV programmes which are heavily regulated create copycats - unregulated social media and less overseen video games are in the frame for that.
The number of cases we investigate where the perpetrators have been inspired by violent video games or something related to the web is striking.
Books, too.
When investigating the 'Crossbow Cannibal' - Stephen Griffiths - Police discovered a room full of books about Serial Killers in his flat. He could justifiably claim that they were part of his studies as a Criminology student at Bradford University - but that was just part of his cover story.
He longed to be a serial killer like his hero the 'Yorkshire Ripper' (Peter Sutcliffe) and targeted sex workers in the same way. He claimed three lives and ostentatiously posed for a security camera with his chosen weapon - a Crossbow - later confirming he did that to gain notoriety.
But the camera he was playing to was there, as far as he was concerned, to ensure his murder would get on lightly regulated Social Media.
I firmly believe that our true crime shows act as a deterrent and to serve the justice system itself.
Across the world there are versions of the English village green 'Sticks' were wrong-doers would be pilloried after their crimes were discovered. Want to find where most judicial hangings were carried out in London? Go to Marble Arch and walk north for 2 minutes - Central London to attract the biggest crowds.
The theory then, as it is now, is that justice must be seen to be done or it won't be done at all. I could also argue that the justice system itself belongs to us all. We pay for policing, the courts, the probation system and so on.
We deserve to know what is done with our taxes and we want to know the system works. The unspoken rule of true crime docs is that the bad guy always has to be caught. Channels like Investigation Discovery, Crime & Investigation and Sky Crime tend to want programmes where the crimes are solved.
Over a 30-year career in TV, I have worked across multiple genres – from current affairs through to factual entertainment, sitcom and entertainment. The true crime genre is the least lucrative, be assured. If I didn't think it had social value I would not do it - and, by the way, it is the hardest job I have ever done.
If you agree, disagree, or want to share your thoughts on this debate, join us at Britain's biggest True Crime event 'True Crime Live' - truecrimeliveuk.co.uk.