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ITV Believe Me producer reflects on importance of upcoming true-life drama: 'Law has changed'
May 2, 2026
Posted 1 hour ago by
The writer and producer behind ITV's forthcoming drama Believe Me has spoken candidly about the emotional toll of bringing the project to screen, and noted how the case ultimately led to changes in the law.Jeff Pope revealed that creating the series left him consumed with frustration throughout the lengthy research and writing process.Speaking to GB News and other media, Mr Pop stated: I can remember spending months and months being angry as I was writing it and pulling together all the elements of research.He described the drama as a shocking kind of state of the nation piece with regard to how we, as in the UK, and specifically, our police, treat sexual offenses.The producer's passionate response to the material underscores the gravity of the real-life events that inspired the series, which examines systemic failures in how authorities handle allegations of rape and sexual assault.Mr Pope was sharply critical of what he perceives as an ongoing problem within British policing, arguing that there remains excessive focus on removing sexual offence cases from crime statistics to artificially improve clearance rates.There is too much of a prevalence to get these kinds of offenses off the crime figures so that clear up rates look artificially better, he added.The producer suggested that resources are being directed towards finding ways to avoid investigating such allegations rather than pursuing justice for victims.So there's energy and time and commitment being heaped on working out the best way to not investigate sexual assault and rape, Mr Pope argued.At the heart of the drama are two women, Sarah and Layla, whose experiences exemplify this failure.Even though there was utterly compelling evidence that something horrible had happened to them, that they'd been raped, they were not believed.
It's as simple as that, Mr Pope explained.The drama draws on the harrowing case of John Worboys, known as the black cab rapist, who exploited his position as a licensed taxi driver to prey on women across London.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSJames May accused of 'advocating police brutality' following post about Golders Green attackGemma Atkinson 'relieved' partner Gorka Marquez has left BBC Strictly amid dancer 'cull'Peep Show star Matt King shares candid update from hospital bed following 'rare stroke'Worboys would target passengers after nights out, spinning tales of lottery or casino wins before persistently offering them champagne laced with drugs, which left his victims unconscious.His 2009 conviction covered offences including sexual assault and drugging with intent against twelve women between 2006 and 2008, though these represented only a fraction of suspected victims.The Metropolitan Police's inadequate investigation of early complaints meant Worboys remained free to offend for years.Following his trial, it emerged he was connected to allegations involving more than a hundred women, exposing the devastating consequences of the force's failures.The victims portrayed in the drama, Sarah and Laila, pursued legal action against the Metropolitan Police alongside solicitor Harriet Wistrich and barrister Phillippa Kaufmann QC, arguing the force's investigative failures violated the Human Rights Act by subjecting them to degrading treatment.Their case succeeded, and when the Met challenged the ruling through to the Supreme Court, the women prevailed once more.Mr Pope highlighted that the ordeal extended beyond the criminal trial, with victims forced to battle against Worboys' potential early release just eight years after his conviction.They were just informed that he was going to be released, Mr Pope said, noting the injustice prompted meaningful reform.That's the one thing that has changed as a result of this case, that law is different and that victims do now have a seat at the table in parole board decisions, some good has come out of it. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
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