Wheels of justice chase Balls of Steel
A Swedish television programme based on the British Channel 4 show Balls of Steel has been reported to police for disorderly conduct and sexual harassment.
The state prosecutor J Nordin called Stockholm police earlier in April to report the entire programme, produced by Strix and broadcast on Kanal 5, which he considers habitually breaks the law.
The prosecutor has decided to report the entire programme and participants for "crimes up to and including Wednesday April 1st".
Kanal 5 responded on Wednesday by arguing that there had never been any criminal intention with "Ballar av Stål" and that the programme should be seen as entertainment.
"But it is of course up to the authorities to decide for themselves if they want to waste tax revenue in 2009," Kanal 5 press spokesperson Dan Panas told media website Resume.se.
The case will be considered by the Chancellor of Justice (JK) as it considers issues of freedom of speech and the press.
This is not the first time the controversial programme has been reported to police.
The Local reported in November 2007 that Hanna Wallenius, a presenter on the show then running a pilot for Sveriges Television, was convicted by Stockholm District Court for causing grievous offence after having squirted the prime minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt, with water.
Wallenius was fined the equivalent of 100 days' wages for harassment and Sveriges Television decide to pass on the programme.
Kanal 5 then took over the rights and and began recording last summer.
Balls of Steel reporter pursued by angry football fans
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The state prosecutor J Nordin called Stockholm police earlier in April to report the entire programme, produced by Strix and broadcast on Kanal 5, which he considers habitually breaks the law.
The prosecutor has decided to report the entire programme and participants for "crimes up to and including Wednesday April 1st".
Kanal 5 responded on Wednesday by arguing that there had never been any criminal intention with "Ballar av Stål" and that the programme should be seen as entertainment.
"But it is of course up to the authorities to decide for themselves if they want to waste tax revenue in 2009," Kanal 5 press spokesperson Dan Panas told media website Resume.se.
The case will be considered by the Chancellor of Justice (JK) as it considers issues of freedom of speech and the press.
This is not the first time the controversial programme has been reported to police.
The Local reported in November 2007 that Hanna Wallenius, a presenter on the show then running a pilot for Sveriges Television, was convicted by Stockholm District Court for causing grievous offence after having squirted the prime minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt, with water.
Wallenius was fined the equivalent of 100 days' wages for harassment and Sveriges Television decide to pass on the programme.
Kanal 5 then took over the rights and and began recording last summer.
Balls of Steel reporter pursued by angry football fans
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