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The CPS and West Midlands Police have apologise to C4

A police force and the Crown Prosecution Service have issued a public apology after admitting they were wrong to claim that a documentary exposing Islamic extremism had been misleading and distorted.

In a joint statement issued on their websites, West Midlands Police and the CPS also accepted the findings of an Ofcom inquiry which cleared Channel 4's Dispatches programme of any wrongdoing.

In a statement issued after Channel 4 launched libel proceedings against the police and the CPS, the bodies apologised unreservedly for the distress caused by claims that programme makers had edited footage to alter the meaning of comments made by extremist preachers.

The joint apology read: "On 8 August 2007, we published a press release relating to the Channel Four Dispatches programme Undercover Mosque.

"This press release alleged that footage of the speakers shown had been so 'heavily edited' and taken out of context that it had 'completely distorted' their meaning.

"Reference was made to the CPS having been asked to consider instituting proceedings against those involved in making the programme for inciting racial hatred.

"Following an independent investigation by the broadcasting regulator Ofcom, we now accept that we were wrong to make these allegations."

The police and CPS added that they now accepted that there was no evidence that the broadcaster or programme makers had misled the audience, or that the programme was likely to encourage or incite criminal activity.

The statement was issued as a Channel 4 received a public apology at the High Court. A six-figure sum is also being paid by the CPS and the police in legal costs and to a charity of Channel 4's choice following the legal action.

Kevin Sutcliffe, deputy head of current affairs at Channel 4, said of the announcement: "This is a total vindication of the programme team in exposing extreme views being preached in mainstream British mosques."