Benefits Street: Police to assess scenes of alleged 'drug abuse' as MP Alex Cunningham expresses concern over Channel 4 programme

The new cast might already be in trouble after the first episode of the fly-on-the-wall programme aired

Lee and his mum on Benefits Street (Channel 4)

Footage from Benefits Street - the Channel 4 programme that examines life on the dole - is to be investigated by the police.

Concerns were raised after scenes appeared to show drug abuse and criminal behaviour.

The programme is set in Kingston Road, Stockton-on-Tees. Chief superintendent Gordon Lang said that they would be viewing the footage.

"Like viewers across the country, we saw the episode broadcast tonight for the first time and some viewers will be concerned about the drug misuse and criminal activity being shown," he told the BBC.

"We will assess the footage as to whether it can assist us in any live investigations or whether new investigations will be launched as a result of the programme."

Love Productions - who worked on the programme - did not respond to The Independent's request for comment. The company has previously insisted it adheres to "strict guidelines".

MP Alex Cunningham initially wrote to the residents asking them not to take part in the programme when it was rumoured that producers were looking in the area.

He explained to Victoria Derbyshire that he wanted to prevent filming because he had feared that his constituents would be exploited. "[My fears] was born out of what we saw last night, and everything we suggested may well happen, of people being exploited - people being portrayed as caricatures. The criminality that was shown there that the police are now investigating..."

Dorothy Taylor from Benefits Street (Channel 4)

The programme featured a scene in which journalists go to the street, and the residents complaining about their privacy being invaded.

Cunningham said: "Dorothy, I think she was actually featured in the programme when she was saying she was feeling exploited by the media, and that's exactly what we predicted would happen. "

When asked if she regretted taking part, Dorothy said: "No, not really, at the end of the day. I'm just me. I can take it."

"I thought it was good," she said. "It just shows what kind of community that we all live in... we all just stick together and help each other out and things."

Monday night's episode opened with three million viewers.