Alan Lodge's Blog

Sorry for the lack of postings lately, so much to do, so little time 🙂

But you’ll see have still been active on stuff

Please check out my ‘Collected’ Indymedia Postings at:

http://tinyurl.com/ynttvo

Photographer, Terence Eden gets stopped and searched under s44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 at Waterloo station, and makes a movie of this ‘security theatre’ whilst it’s happening.Terence Eden gets stopped and searched under s44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 at Waterloo station, and makes a movie of this ‘security theatre’ whilst it’s happening.

Eden was not taking photos prior to being searched, and police did not object to him videoing the search, so this incident does not qualify as an incursion into photo rights. However it’w worth viewing for an insight into the sheer pointless banality of these routine and arbitrary searches, backed up nonetheless by the threat of arrest for non-compliance.

http://www.qik.com/video/203590

I have just uploaded a large ‘best edit’ set of pictures of the Glastonbury Festival 2008

The set can be seen on my Flickr Pages at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tash/sets/72157606887128689

My son Sam, living out in Portugal, has posted a video on YouTube.  It shows something of the event they held, earlier in the summer.

Love the police idea of a warning 🙂 “please go home , you can be here no more”

Everyone one around, just ignored them and carried on.

He must learn to hold the camera still though.  It made me feel a bit giddy.

[youtube=http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=HmVYiI-6kCk]

An outsider’s view of the daily life of a group of hardcore environmental protesters.

Curious about direct political action, and eager to discover the personalities behind the banners, the filmmakers set up home among the trees. They follow a protest against Wales’ LNG pipeline – from unimpressive beginnings to its dramatic end.

Check out this video on Current TV at:

http://current.com/items/89120214_living_with_anarchists

When Murphy the garden gnome disappeared from Eve Stuart-Kelso’s garden in Gloucester, she feared she might never see him again.

But seven months later he was back, complete with a photo album detailing his extraordinary global odyssey. Steve Knibbs reports.

BBC Video clip http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7556244.stm

Photo Galery  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7556182.stm

Gnome in ocean off Thailand

E.ON’s replica of the Kingsnorth coal-fired power station has been occupied by one inch tall climate change campaigners. The drama unfolded at the Legoland park in Windsor – sponsored by E.ON – where the Lego Kingsnorth is given pride of place next to Big Ben and Canary Wharf.

[youtube=http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ykkJJWgOu8A]

The Lego campaigners struck as hundreds of people gather at this year’s Climate Camp to protest the planned new coal plant at Kingsnorth in Kent.

The six campaigners appeared at the top of the construction at around 11am this morning, before unveiling a banner saying STOP CLIMATE CHANGE down the length of the tower. Lego police are in attendance at the foot of the tower, along with a Lego police helicopter.

E.ON proudly announced the construction of Britain’s newest coal-fired station at Legoland in 2006. The German utility giant is Britain’s single biggest greenhouse gas polluter. The company is aiming to have Kingsnorth 2 built by 2012. Despite claims that the new plant will be more efficient, it is estimated that it will emit 8.4 million tonnes of climate changing pollutants every year, compared to the 8.7 million tonnes the existing plant releases annually, and nowhere near the 80% reductions needed to combat global warming.

Neither the campaigners nor the police would comment, because they’re made of Lego and therefore can’t talk.

THE SITUATION:

There is chaos all around you caused by a hurricane with severe flooding.
This is a flood of biblical proportions.
You are a photo-journalist working for a major newspaper and you’re caught in the middle of this epic disaster.
You are trying to shoot career-promoting photos.
There is a mass of debris and many people swirling around you, some disappearing under the water.
Nature is unleashing all of its destructive fury.

THE TEST:

Suddenly, you see a man in the water.
He is fighting for his life, trying not to be taken down with the debris.
You move closer… Somehow, the man looks familiar… You suddenly realise who it is… It’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown!

You notice that the raging waters are about to take him under, forever!

You have two options:

You can save the life of Gordon Brown…

…or you can shoot a dramatic Pulitzer Prize winning photo, documenting the death of one of the world’s leaders.

THE QUESTION:

Here’s the question and please give an honest answer…

Would you select high contrast colour film or would you go with the classic simplicity of black and white?

Climate Camp has been started, field squatted, ….. and is now open for business.

Get down there, and I wish all well.

Climate Camp Ready For Action – Indymedia UK page

Climate Camp 2008 Indymedia UK topic page

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/1415949]

Climate Camp http://climatecamp.org.uk

Any readers out there, wot know about computers and stuff, can tell me how to get rid of these files.  hldrrr.exe  flec006.exe

I believe them to me malicious, they’re using resources and I wan
t rid of them.  Tried deleting them in ‘running process, but they wont go!

Any advice gratefully received

The most action packed show to date, here we move into June with an hour and a half of stuff that matters and music to tingle the senses. With the warmer weather moving in and the city coming alive again we tell those untold stories and showcast some of the best new acts and artists.

We talk to people about the arrests of 2 activists at Nottingham University under the Terrorism Act and ways to campaign against the upcoming deportation of one of them. We bring you an exclusive report about a recent protest at arms manufacturer Hecker & Koch and an update from NAIL, the ongoing campaign against Nottingham’s waste incinerator. Also we went along to a mass trespass of a proposed open cast coal mine site near Heanor, Derbyshire. We have a chat about the Sumac Centre, and interview Alice who’s been involved with producing a free booklet about social centres in the UK and Ireland. Also updates on this years Climate Camp in August and talk about the upcoming mobilisation against the BNP’s Red, White and Blue Festival in Denby, near Codnor. Music from the Rebel Soul Collective, Freakcullector, Leni Ward, Fists, Verbal Warning and Old Basford.

http://riseupradio.wordpress.com/2008/05/29/5-the-june-show

Riseup Radio
http://riseupradio.wordpress.com

Jeremy Dear, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, has written to the Home Secretary to protest against police surveillance of journalists and photographers.

Dear’s letter, sent to Jacqui Smith on 22 May, states that journalists and photographers are being monitored and recorded by the Metropolitan Police’s Forward Intelligence Team (FIT), adding that this surveillance amounts to virtual harassment and is a serious threat to the journalists’ right to carry out their work.

‘As you will be aware,’ he writes, ‘the FIT team have a responsibility to provide intelligence to police units in respect of individuals who may be involved in public order issues. “Targets” whose likenesses are retained by the police are given four-figure Photographic Reference Numbers and held on a database.

‘Recently, the FIT team has started surveillance of press card-carrying journalists who cover and report on protests of any kind. For example, at a recent lobby against the SOCPA (Serious Organised Crime and Police Act) restrictions on protests on 01 March, all members of the press present were catalogued by the FIT team. Through Data Protection Act requests we have learned that details of bona fide journalists are held on this database with photographic reference numbers.’

Later in the same letter he adds: ‘Despite repeated requests there has been no legitimate reason given why police photographers should be photographically cataloguing journalists going about their lawful business.’ He then asks Smith to provide more information about the FIT and the guidance it is given.

Dear has written to the Home Secretary because ongoing concerns he has raised directly with the police have not been resolved, he told BJP. ‘Despite the guidelines drawn up,’ he said, ‘photographers continue to face intimidation.’

He added: ‘The government must stamp out the routine and deliberate targeting of photographers and other journalists by the Forward Intelligence Team. Such actions undermine media freedom and can serve to intimidate photographers trying to carry out their lawful work. These abuses are the latest in an increasingly long list of infringements of media freedom at the hands of the Metropolitan Police. The rights of photographers to work free from threat, harassment and intimidation must be upheld.’

Photojournalist and NUJ member Marc Vallee, who was hospitalised after covering the unlawful ‘Sack Parliament’ protest in London on 09 October 2006, added: ‘Press freedom is a central tenet of our democracy and it is extremely unpleasant to have Metropolitan Police FIT officers take notes, film and photograph you when working. It begs the questions what legal, moral and political power such repressive actions are based on. The Home Secretary needs to swiftly confirm that the police have no legal power to prevent or restrict working photographers in this way.’

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that it has ‘used the tactic of Forward Intelligence Teams in their current format for at least 10 years, including covert photographers’.

In a statement to BJP, commander Bob Broadhurst, in charge of Public Order policing at the Metropolitan Police said: ‘I have personally met with various representatives from bodies who represent the interests of photographers and have sought to protect their rights to do their job through educating colleagues within the Met. Before every operation all our staff are briefed as to the rights and role of the media and wherever operationally possible to facilitate them.

‘Metropolitan Police FIT officers do not target legitimate photographers. FIT officers are deployed in an intelligence and evidence gathering capacity at public order events. This may include interaction with photographers, who on the production of a valid form of accreditation will be able to continue with their work.’
Date: 28 May 2008

http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPage.html?page=796182

“Street Journalists Under Surveillance”
http://jasonnparkinson.blogspot.com/2008/05/street-journalists-under-surveillance.html

“police surveillance of journalists – jeremy dear sends jacqui smith a letter.”
http://www.marcvallee.co.uk/blog_280508.html

Home Secretary told ‘end police surveillance of journalists’
http://www.nuj.org.uk/innerPagenuj.html?docid=816

Jeremy has now written to the Home Secretery on the matter: Here is a copy of his letter:

Jacqui Smith
Home Secretary
Home Office
Direct Communications Unit
2 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DF
22 May 2008
Dear Jacqui,

I am writing to highlight our growing concerns regarding routine police surveillance of journalists.

In particular we have serious concerns about the activities of the Metropolitan Police’s Forward Intelligence Team (FIT Team) in monitoring and recording the activities of bona fide journalists, especially photographers. A number of members have alleged that the police’s surveillance action amounts to virtual harassment and is a serious threat to their right to carry out their lawful employment.

As you will be aware the FIT team have a responsibility to provide intelligence to police units in respect of individuals who may be involved in public order issues. “Targets” whose likenesses are retained by the police are given four-figure Photographic Reference Numbers and held on a database.

Recently, the FIT team has started surveillance of Press-Card-carrying journalists who cover and report on protests of any kind. For example, at a recent lobby against the SOCPA restrictions on protests on 1 March – all members of the press present were catalogued by the FIT team.

Through Data Protection Act requests we have learned that details of bona fide journalists are held on this database with photographic reference numbers.

I have met with a number of those journalists, mainly photographers who have been the victims of this intimidatory policing. For instance, members of the FIT team who know individual journalists by name still follow them and film them all the time they are working. The journalists have provided their Press Cards to FIT team members, have asked why they are under surveillance and have reminded police officers of their lawful right to carry out their work. Despite this the surveillance continues.

Despite repeated requests there has been no legitimate reason given why police photographers should be photographically cataloguing journalists going about their lawful business.

I would welcome from you information in respect of the guidance given to the FIT team.

· Are the FIT team issued with instructions to photograph and catalogue journalists? Can you provide guidelines issued to FIT Team members about their duties/role?
· For what purpose is information gained by the FIT team held on journalists by the police?
· Who has access to information being held on police databases about journalists?

The routine and deliberate targeting of photographers and other journalists by the Forward Intelligence Team  undermines media freedom and can serve to intimidate photographers trying to carry out their lawful work. The rights of photographers to work free from threat, harassment and intimidation must be upheld.

I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you and/or relevant officials to provide further evidence of this activity, including photographic evidence and to seek assurances that the government will do all it can to ensure professional journalists are able to carry out their lawful work.

Yours sincerely

JEREMY DEAR
General Secretary

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

Excuse me, officer …
British Journal of Photography
Date: 7 May 2008

Momentum is growing as photographers fight back against increasing restrictions on shooting images in public places.

More than 190 MPs have now signed up to an Early Day Motion introduced in the House of Commons by Austin Mitchell, urging the ‘Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers to agree on a photography code for the information of officers on the ground, setting out the public’s right to photograph public places, thus allowing photographers to enjoy their hobby without officious interference or unjustified suspicion’.

The motion was introduced after the Metropolitan Police launched an advertising campaign calling for citizens to report any ‘odd-looking’ person taking pictures – to the disgust of both amateur and professional photographers, who say they are increasingly demonised.

Press campaign
Press photographers, in particular, say they are being prevented from carrying out their work by overly-officious police and security personnel, pointing to a number of recent cases which have led to sometime violent confrontation.

To address the issue, the British Press Photographers’ Association is joining forces with the National Union of Journalists and the National Association of Press Agencies to try to resolve the issue with the police. Guidelines already exist, but say the organisations, rank-and-file officers seem to be unaware of their content, or choose to deliberately ignore them.

While the campaign is expected to gather strength, photographers are now waiting on the results of an upcoming meeting between the police and representative associations. This was due to happen last week, but the Met postponed and has yet to reschedule.

A group of freelance photographers, aided by the BPPA, has been meeting with the police regularly to address such issues. Now, to show a united front in the media freedom campaign, the BPPA is starting a new group alongside the NUJ and the NAPA. ‘This group, which has yet to be named, will carry on with these meetings with the police,’ says Jeff Moore of the BPPA. He hopes that the unified front will force the police to brief their officers on guidelines agreed in 2006. ‘We’ve tried to push the police to let us give talks to street officers about these guidelines, but we were never allowed to do it,’ Moore says. ‘It’s been promised, but it never happened.’

Last month, Moore asked individual photographers to make formal complaints each time they are assaulted by the police. However, no proper official complaint has been filed with the police yet, he tells BJP this week. ‘We will wait for the outcome before doing so.’

Funny side
Meanwhile, several spoofs of the Met’s ad campaign have appeared, including one that calls on photographers to report any ‘odd-looking’ police officers. Backed by the BPPA, EPUK and the NUJ, it reads: ‘Thousands of coppers stop photographers every day. What if one of them seems odd? Police twists the laws to help prevent protest, stopping people and threatening arrest under vague, all-encompassing terrorism laws. If you see a copper behaving oppressively we need to know. Let experienced journalists decide what action to take.’

Other photographers have submitted their own versions of the ad on the photo-sharing site Flickr. To view them, visit  http://www.flickr.com/groups/met_poster .

interview we did with Austin Mitchell MP

http://web.splashcast.net/web_watch/?code=LEWA4904VU

and on Radio4

Here’s a long version of the interview we did with Austin Mitchell MP. We also spoke to Mark Whitaker and to Peter Smythe, who chairs the Metropolitan Police Federation.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2008/04/youve_been_framed.shtml

John Toner is an eminent and respected union leader, with experience, integrity, energy and vision, and an enviable record in serving the NUJ and has a proven track record.

John has been a member of the NUJ for 27 years, an eminent and respected member of the NEC representing Scotland for 9 years, and served as both President and Honorary General Treasurer of the NUJ. He was Northern Organiser for 4 years before taking up the job of Freelance Organiser in 2001. He is quick-witted, efficient and unflappable. The NUJ needs his experience, integrity, energy and vision. The NUJ needs an effective and experienced Deputy General Secretary

http://www.votejohntoner.com

“I’m backing John because… he has a range of experience that is useful to me as a photographer & freelance member. Additionally, and beyond the usual fees and copyright, is intimately aware of the other matters that make our lives so difficult. Police Vs media, rights-grabbing, non-crediting, late/no payment …. and so on!”
– Alan Lodge (Nottingham)

A Labour MP (Mitchell, Austin) has tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) in the House of Commons condemning police action against lawful photography in public places.

His EDM reads as such:

That this House is concerned to encourage the spread and enjoyment of photography as the most genuine and accessible people’s art; deplores the apparent increase in the number of reported incidents in which the police, police community support officers (PCSOs) or wardens attempt to stop street photography and order the deletion of photographs or the confiscation of cards, cameras or film on various specious ground such as claims that some public buildings are strategic or sensitive, that children and adults can only be photographed with their written permission, that photographs of police and PCSOs are illegal, or that photographs may be used by terrorists; points out that photography in public places and streets is not only enjoyable but perfectly legal; regrets all such efforts to stop, discourage or inhibit amateur photographers taking pictures in public places, many of which are in any case festooned with closed circuit television cameras; and urges the Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers to agree on a photography code for the information of officers on the ground, setting out the public’s right to photograph public places thus allowing photographers to enjoy their hobby without officious interference or unjustified suspicion.

Photographers lobby parliament over police curbs :: Press Gazette
Labour MP Austin Mitchell is planning to take a delegation of photographers to the Home Office to protest about the growing number of cases in which police officers and others try to stop professional and amateur photographers taking pictures in public places.

Mitchell, MP for Grimsby, has already tabled an Early Day Motion at the Commons which has been signed by 131 MPs, giving it wide cross-party support.
Mitchell said he tabled the motion because of the increasing number of occasions in which police and others had tried to stop people taking pictures in public places.

“People have complained about photographers being stopped from taking pictures by police, PCSOs, wardens and by various officious people,” he said.

“People have a right to take photographs and to start interfering with that is crazy. It seems crazy when the streets are festooned with closed-circuit television cameras that the public should be stopped from using cameras.

“The proliferation of digital cameras and mobile phones with cameras means that everybody carries a camera these days.”

Mitchell said that last year he was challenged when taking a picture of the view while visiting the Leeds-Liverpool canal by a lock-keeper who wanted to know why he was taking photographs.

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has also protested about the growing number of cases in which police and others have stopped press photographers doing their jobs.

NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear staged a one-man protest outside the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police on March 28 to highlight the failure of law enforcement officers to protect media freedoms.

Press photographers are growing increasingly frustrated because they are regularly obstructed from doing their jobs by police officers who do not understand the law.

Dear said his one-man demo was intended to help senior police officers spot the difference between a protester and photographers covering the protest.

Mitchell’s Early Day Motion reads: “That this House is concerned to encourage the spread and enjoyment of photography as the most genuine and accessible people’s art; deplores the apparent increase in the number of reported incidents in which the police, police community support officers (PCSOs) or wardens attempt to stop street photography and order the deletion of photographs or the confiscation of cards, cameras or film on various specious ground such as claims that some public buildings are strategic or sensitive, that children and adults can only be photographed with their written permission, that photographs of police and PCSOs are illegal, or that photographs may be used by terrorists; points out that photography in public places and streets is not only enjoyable but perfectly legal; regrets all such efforts to stop, discourage or inhibit amateur photographers taking pictures in public places, many of which are in any case festooned with closed circuit television cameras; and urges the Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers to agree on a photography code for the information of officers on the ground, setting out the public’s right to photograph public places thus allowing photographers to enjoy their hobby without officious interference or unjustified suspicion.”

In February, photojournalist Marc Vallée, who was injured while covering the “Sack Parliament” demonstration in 2006, received an apology and an out-of-court settlement from the Metropolitan Police.

In May last year, Thames Valley Police rescinded a caution which was given to photographer Andy Handley, of the MK News in Milton Keynes, after he took pictures at a road accident scene.

The force rescinded the caution, which was deleted from the Police National Computer, after NUJ took up the case.

Handley was arrested and handcuffed after refusing to give a police sergeant the memory card from his camera, which carried pictures he had taken from a public road and from behind police tapes at the crash scene at Stony Stratford, Bucks.

http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=40875&c=1

Open letter to Jeremy Dear
General Secretary
National Union of Journalist

Hello Jeremy
Thank you for your efforts in highlighting our continued difficulties with police, these continue in spite of the guidelines and agreement that we had. The one man show at Scotland Yard might get it discussed a bit more in our own professional circles, but I still wonder if there will be any progress with the police themselves. Further thanks for coming to Nottingham and being a supporter in my own case here.

I think in a democratic society like ours (??) the more senior police managers can only agree with us, that it is not an offence to take photographs in a public place and to pursue stories of public interest. Hence, I guess, we will find little opposition in agreeing the guidance with them. You will know that the real problems begin with the lower ranks.

Since my own arrest for obstruction, my adventures continue with a situation at least once a week.

You may know that on the Nottinghamshire Police Guidelines cover, it says: “Guidelines for police and media at incidents”.

On several occasions, I have been told by police that: “ah mate, no, it’s not an incident, it’s a scene!!”. For this to have happened several times, clearly there have been some watchroom conversations about it all, and to think up devices. Then, at a couple of criminal justice events, I found myself in conversation with middle rank Inspectors and Chief Inspectors who knew nothing of the issue of these guidelines locally. They were to have been widely distributed within the force after agreement.

A more common reaction though, when police are trying to prevent pictures being taken or I’m being hassled about my presence, is simply to push them back at me, without reading them or acknowledgement. Thus to plead continued ignorance of their provisions. Basically they just don’t care. Down here on the street, nothing has changed, all is the same as ever.

There is now another level of policing, non-warranted officers, wardens etc …. I have to say that they are even less clued-up, than the average policemen and these can be even more officious, and lack understanding of their powers.

John Toner was interviewed for this piece, you might find interesting:

 http://current.com/items/88856223_you_can_t_picture_this

Since they do lack such understanding, I have asked locally if the wardens have been issued with the guidelines. I have been told that it was not relevant to do so and was not appropriate. Well, in the light of experience, I think it is.

You may also know that when we negotiated the Nottinghamshire Guidelines locally, I had made freedom of information act enquiries of all police forces [john has copies of all these], asking about there treatment of photographers at situations. It was the differences of reply that leads us to suppose that national guidance is required.

I think experience has shown though, that even if all is taken nationally, there is no consequence for them being ignored by police, and so they are. They do not form part of police operational orders. I know only to well of what happens to us if we are accused of dis-obeying police instructions, we get arrested and convicted. I understand the Legal Officer was taking steps to see if these guidelines provisions could be included in the police and criminal evidence act. As far as I can see, this is the only way that the police will respect them, that if by ignoring them, that they break the law themselves.

Anyway, as I started, I just want to say thanks for your effort. It’s such a long road, and quite tiring.

Regards

Alan Lodge

Title: Solo protest by NUJ chief
Feature: news
Date: 2 April 2008

The National Union of Journalists held a one-man protest in an effort to highlight concerns over police harrassment. Olivier Laurent reports

Jeremy Dear, the National Union of Journalists’ general secretary, stood outside the New Scotland Yard headquarters of the Metropolitan Police on 28 March for one hour in protest at worsening relations with press photographers. The one-man demonstration calling on police to ‘respect media freedom’, was attended by a dozen photographers there to cover the event. It was designed to show police forces the difference between a protester and photographers.

Dear also planned to hand in a letter to Ian Blair, the Met commissioner, however, the police refused to accept it and asked for it to be posted instead.

In May last year, journalist unions and the Association of Chief Police Officers agreed on guidelines to help improve relations between the police and press photographers. The decision to adopt these guidelines was designed to improve on worsening relations, notably during the London bombings of July 2005, when press photographers complained of ‘gratuitous obstruction’ (BJP, 30 May 2007).

However, recent incidents have raised questions as to whether the guidelines are being followed by police forces. ‘What’s really frustrating is that they are already in place which should deal with the problems we experience,’ says Dear. ‘We’re not even campaigning for a change to the rules. All we want is for the policy that currently exists to be properly enforced.’

Last month, the Met settled out of court with freelance photographer Marc Vallee, who was hospitalised after covering the unlawful ‘Sack Parliament’ protest in London on 09 October 2006. In March, Lawrence Looi, a photographer from the West Midlands-based photographic agency, News Team, was asked by two police officers to delete photographs he had taken of a protest. Looi agreed to delete the images under duress, but has filled a complaint against the officers (BJP, 05 March).

The Met has also launched a new anti-terrorism campaign asking the public to report any ‘odd’ seeming photographer. While the Met police ‘reassures photojournalists they are not going to act on impulse,’ adding ‘it will analyse all evidence before action is taken – if action is taken at all’, photographers remain worried that they will be the targets of increased checks while on the job.

In its letter to the Met, the Union says: ‘The guidelines recognise this important relationship, but it seems that in the majority of cases individual officers are not aware of the existence of the guidelines and NUJ members have reported numerous cases where they are not being followed. Many of these reports are made by photographers, who cite examples of police officers obstructing them in their work, confiscating their equipment, forcing them to delete images or of physically removing photographers when they are lawfully exercising their duties.’

The Union asks that police officers be given copies of the guidelines at briefings that take place in advance of major public events. For more information, visit www.nuj.org.uk.