The Sun on Sunday today report that when Bethany finally plucks up the courage to report her abusers to the cops she will come face to face with Nathan's friend Neil, who is a policeman.
And, in a bid to silence her, he threatens Bethany’s family, telling her: “You’re not even safe in a police station.”
Mr Curry Sauce told The Sun on Sunday: “This dark twist in Bethany’s story comes as a real shock. She is convinced her ordeal will end when she goes to the police station — and is utterly horrified to find out she was wrong. She is terrified of Neil and terrified that her family could be at risk and her fear forces her into an even darker place. Things are going to get worse for Bethany long before they begin to get better. Neil’s role as a police officer gives the writers scope to take the drama even further. But some viewers may think they have taken things too far.”
A Corrie spokeswoman told The Sun: “We do not comment on storylines.”
So, pure speculation on our part here... but if Neil is a policeman that Bethany goes to in order to report the abuse, could he also be Craig's training mentor? In the world of soap, anything is possible.
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As commenters have said on other sites, there's a chance victims won't feel happy about going to the police. We have to trust that this storyline is kept matter-of-fact rather than explosive right to the end. After all, this isn't 'Line of Duty'. I really hope the information about charities continues with leaflets in public toilets, pubs and schools.
ReplyDeleteJeanie (anon): Thought Corrie was doing this story line to raise awareness and combat sexual exploitation of young women. But an unlikely twist like this takes the story out of the realms of realism and into exploitation of the topic. It also sends a very dangerous message because it's telling young women that they can't go to the police. When, actually, young women CAN go to the police who WILL help them. Part of the problem is that these girls don't go to the police because they're too ashamed and that allows the abuse to continue. And also because other people--like the staff at hotels where these young women are trafficked--keep quiet and don't share suspicions with police that sex traffickers are able to continue to operate.
ReplyDeleteSo, a VERY peculiar route for the story to take if it's purported purpose is to help and educate young women and other potential victims! Makes me think that for all their posturing and self-congratulating the producers really just want the thrills and chills of a sensational plotline and the titillation of scenes like Friday night's in which a sweet young blond girl serves alcohol to three older men all ogling her perky behind in her schoolgirl skirt.
Producers: pursue the story line if you like but don't try to pretend to some grand educational purpose! It's titillation and sensation, pure and simple, especially with this latest twist.
I agree, especially with your last paragraph. We have enough awareness now to wrap the story up Imo.
DeleteHowever, it does happen irl.
ReplyDeleteFrom the NY Daily News, Feb 2016: "In October 2015, police pulled over NYPD Officer Eduardo Cornejo in his personal vehicle after witnessing the off-duty cop apparently running a prostitution ring at a Long Island motel. Instead of arresting Cornejo, the officers let him go. But after receiving an anonymous tip, the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau and the FBI planted a bug in his car and wiretapped his phone while using an undercover officer posing as a john...Unaware of the listening device in his vehicle, Cornejo openly discussed running a stable of prostitutes and avoiding suspicion from the police."
Anon15:38
DeleteSure, you can find a rare instance of anything happening but if these rings were routinely populated with policemen it would be discovered every time they were rounded up.
This is really a bad twist in the storyline if the point is to teach young girls and parents what to do. A lot of abusers try to falsely instill fear in their victims by pretending to have eyes and ears everywhere and now the one show currently featuring such a storyline is confirming their lie.
I agree with Jeanie's [anon]comments and after reading that the storyline will go on until the fall[Why can't it end sooner?],it seems the writers are more concerned about tacking on one twist after another to drag the storyline instead of reaching a conclusion.
ReplyDeleteAs for Bethany,couldn't she go to a different police station or tells her uncles what's going on?
If Ken's fall is still being investigated,perhaps Bethany can tell those detectives what's going on.
If this is true, I don't like this at all. We teach children that if they are in trouble to go to the police and that it is a safe place. Now we have a storyline that is making the police into the bad guy. Not a good twist, especially if it's only for ratings.
ReplyDeleteI'm in agreement that it's time to wrap this story up. Dragging it out until autumn is not only ridiculous, but it tells me that it has nothing to do with sending a message and all about sensationalism.
Disappointed to hear this as well. It's been uncomfortable viewing but I had hoped it was serving a higher purpose than it now seems to be doing. We're not all Ians and Neils enjoying the portrayal of child exploitation, but they must think we are if dragging this storyline out is what they think we want to see.
ReplyDeleteDisappointed to hear this as well. It's been uncomfortable viewing but I had hoped it was serving a higher purpose than it now seems to be doing. We're not all Ians and Neils enjoying the portrayal of child exploitation, but they must think we are if dragging this storyline out is what they think we want to see.
ReplyDelete