'FRUSTRATING'
White House Farm slammed for Essex police ‘inaccuracies’ in harrowing investigation scenes
ITV's latest drama White House Farm has proved to be a hit with viewers so far, but some are disappointed with it's lack of accuracy.
The six-part series, which is based on the real-life murders of the Bamber family in 1985, has left some fans frustrated with it's efforts at attention to detail.
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After the first episode aired on January 8, one viewer took to a Facebook group to share his views on the adaptation.
Revealing he had worked alongside police officers for 25 years, he posted: "In TV dramas there is always 'artistic licence', however when a drama is based on real events and claimed to have been thoroughly researched you would expect a degree of accuracy.
"On the ITV drama White House Farm, which is based on a tragic real life event in Essex in 1985, a large part of the story concerns the police response and investigation.
"It's quite frustrating to see that no effort was made to research Essex Police vehicles at the time," he continued.
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"In 1985, Essex Police had very distinctive markings on their vehicles and primarily used Ford vehicles such as the Granada and Sierra (though there were a few Maestro pandas and of course Range Rovers on the motorways)."
Going on to explain the differences between the vehicles used in the show and those used in the Eighties, he added: "The panda cars would have had a black and white checked design on the front doors only centred with the Essex force crest.
"Larger vehicles, such as the Ford Granada had a full length yellow stripe with and additional black and white check underneath and had very distinctive roof signs.
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"While this might seem pedantic to some, to those with an interest in police vehicle history and those connected with Essex Police's past and present can be heard murmuring with disgust at the lack of authenticity.
"I have an interest in police history particularly vehicles and have amassed a great deal of information over the years," he signed off with.
However, some fans defended the show and hit out at people's "unfair expectations".
One person wrote: "I came across the photo online and knew that many in the group would find it interesting due to the vehicles it featured.
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"It seemed a bit too neat and tidy to me for a crime scene so it was obviously an ITV photoshoot."
They added: "I don't blame them because unless they have the actual house to work with it won't be real. I was surprised by the debate it triggered.
"I think some of the guys in the group have unfair expectations of TV producers/directors and as you must have read, sometimes ignore advice they seek from serving and ex-police officers."
The real White House Farm Murders took place near the village of Tolleshunt D'Arcy in Essex during the night of 6-7 August 1985.
White House Farm preview sees Jeremy Bamber flirt with Brett Collins after family's death
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The only surviving family member was distraught Jeremy, who told police his schizophrenic sister had done it, then killed herself.
But the truth was Jeremy, then 24, had savagely murdered his adoptive parents, Nevill and June Bamber, his adopted sister Sheila Caffell and her six-year-old twin sons Daniel and Nicholas - with his father's gun.
He is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
British actor Freddie Fox takes on the role of Jeremy in the ITV series, while Stephen Graham portrays DCI Taff Jones.
White House Farm continues on Wednesday at 9pm on ITV.
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