POLICE asked for £250 for an old video of the Brighton Cat Killer.

The footage was taken when Steve Bouquet was interviewed by police on suspicion of knife attacks on cats across the city.

Documentary maker Jody Doherty-Cove contacted Sussex Police to get a copy of this clip and was quoted a fee of £250.

The force said they only charge the media for archive video in some instances where there is deemed to be no further policing purpose, while material given out contemporaneously is free.

A number of other forces were asked if there were any circumstances where they would charge to supply video to the press - and said that there were not.

Jody, who used to work for The Argus, wanted to use the video in his documentary, Charged: How to Catch a Cat Killer.

He said: “The sharing of a criminal’s police interview footage should be based on whether it is in the public interest to do so.

“However, by charging for the footage, it feels as though Sussex Police is limiting their content based on the deepness of a potential buyer’s pockets.

“Hopefully, the force can understand that small or local outlets will often reach audiences untouched by larger outlets like ITV prime time. 

“These communities should not miss out on viewing important aspects of the criminal justice system because the creators of the content they enjoy can’t afford to pay the sums demanded by Sussex Police.”

Royal Navy veteran Bouquet - who died earlier this year - killed nine cats and left a further seven injured.

The 54-year-old carried out the spree between October 2018 and May 2019 before being captured on CCTV set up by a pet owner.

Bouquet was convicted in July last year and jailed for five years and three months.

At the time, a video showing part of his police interview was issued to the media.

An extended version of this was later included in an ITV documentary, which aired in June.

In July, Sussex Police told Jody it would cost £250 for a copy of this video.

In an email, Sussex Police said: “We only offer a single licence with the minimum cost being £250 for non-exclusive use for up to three years.

“Please let me know if you would like to purchase.”

Jody later released his documentary, part of Charged: True Crime UK, which explores the most shocking criminal cases in the country. 

In the film, he said: "I would like to show you an interesting extended police interview with the cat killer broadcast on ITV, but it turns out that Sussex Police is selling off licences to its interviews with criminals and it would cost me £250 to do so."

Sussex Police said this "fee for administrative time" was "common practice and accepted within the production industry".

Other forces were asked if there were any circumstances where they would charge to supply video to the press. 

A spokeswoman from Essex Police said: “It is a categoric no from us. And I’d refer you to College of Policing code of ethics for further guidance.”

Meanwhile, Surrey Police said: “We do not charge for supplying video to the press.”

Kent Police said they were not aware of any instances where they have charged the press for any videos.

Hampshire Police said: “As a force, we would not charge a fee for this in any circumstance.”

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that they "sometimes license footage to TV companies" and that "there would be a fee for this".

While other footage released "as part of an appeal or where it has been entered in evidence at court" would be free.

The Argus: Steve Bouquet Steve Bouquet

A spokesman said: “On a day-to-day basis, we supply the media with a great deal of information and materials about policing issues, operations and investigations and which is freely used for contemporaneous reporting.

“We support the principles of open justice and the wider benefits to our local communities of sharing this information, legally and proportionately, for the prevention and detection of crime, and building confidence in reporting.

“In this case, evidential material used in court was supplied to all media freely for use at the time.

“For requests to use non-contemporaneous material, and where its judged there is no further policing purpose, we may seek a fee for administrative time so as not to burden the taxpayer.

“This is common practice and accepted within the production industry.”

Charged - True Crime UK is a new series by Newsquest featuring insight from local journalists who covered the stories first-hand.

Subscribe to the Charged - True Crime UK YouTube channel to stay up to date with the new documentaries.