TV Documentary Producer Releases Book About Hidden Cameras In Care Homes

A documentary producer has released a book about hidden surveillance cameras following his involvement with several documentaries exposing mistreatment in care homes for the BBC’s Panorama show.

Joe Plomin has been involved with five major investigations for BBC’s Panorama, including the episode Undercover Care, highlighted the extent of abuse to residents at Winderbourne View care home in 2011.

Following public concerns expressed after these documentaries were broadcast more families are considering the use of hidden cameras to film what is happening to their relatives in care, encouraging Mr Plomin to start working on his book that takes a scientific look at the latest legislation, technology and moral issues raised by secret surveillance.

In an article for The Guardian, Mr Plomin explains: “At the BBC, we do not encourage people to do their own covert filming, but it is happening more and more often, driven by the kinds of concerns in those emails I received. For this reason, I have written a book, Hidden Cameras, that explores the issues raised by covert filming for journalistic and other reasons, and to try to support those who have no other choice and who have exhausted other avenues for complaint.”

The book also examines the growing number of care homes that are installing their own surveillance cameras, and his book addresses the issues these businesses face.