A new episode in the Channel 4 documentary series 24 Hours in Police Custody exposes how a misogynist culture protects predators.
The Channel 4 docu-series tells the inside story investigating the crimes of 34-year-old serial predator Craig France. It follows the story of two young women who came forward to the police and tells a story of how misogyny allows predators like France to evade justice for so long.
The program opens with a chilling testimony from a young woman who came forward to police last August. She explains: “I’ve literally never been the same since it happened”.
She goes on to explain his grooming process of becoming your friend and waiting “till you let your guard down.” She added: “It’s a lot to have on somebody’s soul.”
Police bodycam footage of France’s house highlighted eerie details. His bedroom windows were blacked out, hidden cameras all over the house, and shelves lined with bottles of sourz. One officer comments, “sourz is hardly the drink of choice for a 33-year-old man”.
A second woman came forward to the police after Craig sent explicit videos of her, which she was not aware of. Upon investigation, the videos show she is unconscious. Both victims depicted in the program were videotaped unknowingly.
Police found more than 6000 disturbing images and videos captured on these hidden cameras. From this, three more victims were identified and told that unbeknownst to them, they were filmed. Police believe more victims are yet to be identified.
He preyed on young women who had barely entered adulthood.
The show reveals more than just the crimes of France, but also how a culture of misogyny protects predators like France. The show’s producer, Simon Ford, told the BBC the program highlights “the way men behave and what’s acceptable in our culture”.
Adding: “There were people in his social group who actually saw videos of some of the things he did and didn’t report it to the police, so I think it’s a shocking case.”
It was brushed off as sort of ‘he was one of the boys.
Det Ch Insp Helen Tebbit, who helped to convict Craig France, said: “France portrayed himself as everyone’s best friend – caring, fun, and provided what his victims thought was a safe place to party.
“But in reality, he preyed on young women who had barely entered adulthood for his own sexual gratification.”
In the two-part program, victims and officers discuss how other men enabled France’s behaviour. One victim remarked: “It’s always the men that stick up for him, saying he’s a nice guy.” Describing the way they spoke as: “A deep tone of misogyny there, it was brushed off as sort of ‘he was one of the boys’”
Police found key evidence in WhatsApp group chats with France and his friends and relatives. Here, he would describe his sexual encounters and send pictures. Most of which were taken and sent without the victim’s knowledge.
This behaviour was encouraged by the group chat members with one of France’s male relatives replying to a photograph with “I wanna show mum” followed by “lol she laughed”.
Officers highlight: “His ability to enable victims to think his behaviour is normal”, with many victims expressing France’s charismatic and charming personality. A personality which masked his serial predatory behaviour.
The people around him validated France’s predatory behaviour. The program reveals harsh truths about what misogynistic men believe is acceptable behaviour in our society. This misogynistic culture allowed France to continue its violent crimes against women without challenge.
Police believe France could have upwards of 20 more victims and hope that the Channel 4 program will urge more victims to seek justice.
