After yet another encounter with police surveillance operations and the FIT team at the Heckler & Koch weapons manufacturers HQ. I had taken more photos of them and made another Indymedia posting about it all. As usual, the comments present us with more heat then light.
FIT are beyond the evidence gathering we have all come to know. There is an intimidatory component to their activities. Protestors, Football Fans, Animal Rights activists, Travellers and Festival attendees have know this for years. The NUJ and journalist are the latest group to be added to be targeted by these folks. These links give you some of this progress:
NUJ Freelance Apr08 FIT snappers snap snappers
http://www.londonfreelance.org/fl/0804fit.html?i=flindex&d=2008_04
Jeremy Dear, Gen Sec NUJ – FIT for purpose
http://jeremydear.blogspot.com/2008/05/fit-for-purpose.html
BBC NEWS UK Police ‘spying’ powers challenged
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7377437.stm
British Journal of Photography – Excuse me, officer …
http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPage.html?page=792719
police surveillance of journalists marc vallée blog
http://www.marcvallee.co.uk/blog_080508.html
New Statesman: Is this what a police state looks like?
http://www.newstatesman.com/200805030006
Current TV [Google Channel] You Can’t Picture This, Oh yes you can!
http://current.com/items/88856223_you_can_t_picture_this
Police in court over pictures at arms protest Politics The Observer
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/apr/27/police.humanrights
If it is accepted that police are supposed to investigate and prevent crime ….. then the filming of lawful activity by police, might be considered oppressive. [the point!] and perhaps illegal.
However, this example from the US, and the way the law worked for them, should give some heart to how the UK citizens, might try and establish similar principles. Please check out the main link and watch the video interview about the judgement outlawing ‘blanket’ police surveillance.
Democracy Now: NYPD Spy Tactics Exposed [February 19, 2007]
http://www.democracynow.org/2007/2/19/nypd_spy_tactics_exposed_democracy_now
[Video Interview on the issue]
http://tinyurl.com/3pca3j
Local Surveillance examples: [so much more, this is just a sample]
Nottingham Surveillance at Demo at Heckler & Koch weapons manufacturers HQ
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/05/398414.html
Fossil Fools Blockade E.On Offices Surveillance and Specialist Equipment
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395429.html
Prime Minister visits Nottingham University :: Surveillance Operations
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/01/331596.html
Surveillance of Nottingham city centre
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/03/335022.html
