Police have made a formal complaint to Ofcom over a Channel 4 Dispatches film about Muslim extremists which was allegedly distorted through its editing.

It emerged today that a second Dispatches programme about British Muslims is also under investigation, this one by the Metropolitan police.

The first programme, Undercover Mosque, broadcast in January, featured footage shot at a number of mosques, including one at which a preacher praised the Taleban for killing British soldiers.

West Midlands Police said that its inquiry had at first looked at whether there had been any criminal offences committed by three people featured in the programme.

After extensive investigation of the footage, however, detectives then extended their inquiries to the way the film had been edited.

The force said that it had been advised by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute the broadcaster for stirring up racial hatred.

Bethan David, CPS reviewing lawyer, said: “The CPS has demonstrated that it will not hesitate to prosecute those responsible for criminal incitement.

“But in this case we have been dealing with a heavily-edited television programme, apparently taking out of context aspects of speeches which in their totality could never provide a realistic prospect of any convictions.”

Dispatches investigated activities at several mosques across the country, including the Green Lane Mosque in Birmingham. It featured interviews with moderate British Muslim figures, who spoke out against extremism.

Miss David advised police that on the evidence available, there was insufficient evidence that racial hatred had been stirred up as a direct consequence of the programme.

Channel 4 said that it believed that Ofcom would exonerate the broadcaster. Kevin Sutcliffe, Dispatches commissioning editor, said: “We believe the comments made in the film speak for themselves - several speakers were clearly shown making abhorrent and extreme comments.

“This was a thorough and detailed one-hour documentary, made over nine months, which allowed these comments to be seen in a fuller context.”

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