Campbell medal thief interview led to arrests

Campbell Live received a lot of criticism for re-recording an interview using an actor in place of the man responsible for stealing war medals from the Waiouru Army Museum. However, it was revealed earlier this week that hotel security footage of the actual interview helped police make arrests.

John Campbell undertook the original interview using a dictophone at Auckland's Duxton Hotel, but was unknowingly caught on the hotel's closed circuit security cameras in the lobby.

Two men were then arrested and the footage is expected to be used in their trial.

The Broadcasting Standards Authority upheld a complaint against Campbell Live because while they publicly admitted using an actor for the televised version of the interview, they never actually announced that on the show itself.

I don't think any of the fuss over the Campbell interview was ever warranted - the transcript of the interview was real, and the hooded shadow that appeared on screen never really alluded to any physical features of the person. I would much rather watch a staged interview than look at a blank screen for it's duration.

At the end of the day, the undertaking of the interview helped police to make arrests. This means that any of those people who felt they were mislead by the interview can have their minds put at rest by realising some good did come out of it.