A POLITICAL heavyweight has come to Southampton calling on the makers of the controversial documentary Immigration Street to “respect the community”.
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper was at a meeting at the Bitterne United Reformed Church where dozens of people heard her speak about immigration.
Speaking to the Daily Echo, the Labour MP said that she was aware that people were “unhappy” that Immigration Street was being filmed in Southampton.
She said: “People are really worried that they are being exploited and that's the problem.
“We know the council and the community are worried that Channel 4 are filming this documentary in their area.”
She added: “We've got to have a debate about immigration, but I do also think that TV companies should respect the local community.”
Television crews have been filming the programme, a sequel to the controversial Benefits Street, in Derby Road in the city.
The production company behind it, Love Productions, have defended the proposals saying they will capture the diversity of life in the community and that it has “no agenda”.
But they have been met with fierce opposition from community, the city council and other leading figures, who fear it will “cynically exploit” residents and could “set back community relations years”.
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