Alan Lodge's Blog

500 Years of Female Portraits in Western Art

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUDIoN-_Hxs]

I thought that this was splendid. Derbyshires finest in action. Making waves …. and no progress.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvdpYgX4f7Q]

On Saturday 30 June at 12 noon, The Nottingham Congolese Community assembed to demonstrated against continued deportations.

Starting from The Old Market Square, they marched through Nottingham, past the railway station and continued through the Meadows Queens Walk to the Meadows Park near the embankment.

They wanted to draw attention to continued deportations of their community to the Congo, in spite of the risks to them.

Is the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) really independent? Since “independence was granted to the DRC on 30 June 1960, the country has been under the control of criminals and dictators, while its progress has been hindered by foreign interference, illegal exploitation and exportation of the Congo’s natural resources, and levels of repression, human rights abuses and conflict that have killed millions and produced hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers, refugees and internally displaced persons.

Despite the so-called ‘ democratic’ elections last year, more than people were gunned down in February this year in the Bas- Congo region while protesting against local election results. Innocent men, women and children belonging to the politico-religious group Bundu dia Kongo were killed while they prayed in their church.

On 22 and 23 march, more than 700 people died in the capital when troops loyal to Joseph ‘ Kabila’ used heavy arms in an open street battle against those backing hi8s presidential contender Jean-Pierre Bemba. Hundreds more were seriously injured, thousands arrested and an unknown number were forcibly disappeared. In the east of the country, war between opposing groups of militias is still causing death, devastation, displacement and acute insecurity. Rape is endemic throughout the country and is used as a weapon of oppression punishment and torture.

Industrial loggers are being allowed to plunder the Congo’s remaining intact rainforest , upon which more than two thirds of the population depend for their livelihood. Eighty percent of the species found in the Congo cannot be found anywhere else on earth. People are being exploited for their land.

There is credible evidence of persecution of Congolese Asylum seekers who are forcibly returned to the DRC. A country Guidance tribunal due to start on July will aim to determine that it is unsafe to return people under present conditions.

Organised by: Nottingham Congolese Community.
Supported by: No Borders Nottingham, African Initiative Support, NCADC

Other postings for this year, on this and related issues.

Nottingham Mayday 1 Event: suported asylum seekers in their demand for the right to work.

Nottingham Mayday 2 Parade: suported asylum seekers in their demand for the right to work.

Nottingham No Borders ‘National Day of Action on Asylum Rights’

Nottingham Demo against deportations to Congo

Nottingham Situation in the Congo is worsening as deportations continue [Feature]

******

More indymedia posts:

Occupation at Labour Party Offices for East Midlands

Nottingham Protest against Deportations to Northern Iraq (Kurdistan)

Nottingham Police Station :: Forced Deportations Continue

Anti-Deportation Protest at Nottingham Magistrates Court

&&&&&&&&

http://www.nobordersnottingham.org.uk
http://www.nottsrefugeeforum.org.uk
http://www.ncadc.org.uk

More info on Nottingham Congolese community,
Contact: Patrick Essalo 07877489626
patrickessalo@yahoo.com

Current UK Threat Level

http://www.intelligence.gov.uk/threat_levels.aspx

The current threat level is assessed as Critical (as of 30th June 2007).

What are Threat Levels
Threat levels are designed to give a broad indication of the likelihood of a terrorist attack. They are based on the assessment of a range of factors including current intelligence, recent events and what is known about terrorist intentions and capabilities. This information may well be incomplete and decisions about the appropriate security response are made with this in mind.

Together with the detailed assessments behind them, this analysis informs security practitioners in key sectors and the police of the potential threat of terrorist attack. Threat assessments are also produced as necessary for individuals and events. There are five threat levels which inform decisions about the levels of security needed to protect our Critical National Infrastructure (CNI).

Critical – an attack is expected imminently

Women representatives from the Six Nations on the Grand River community in Ontario, Canada gave a talk at the Sumac Centre, Forest Fields, Nottingham on Wednesday the 27th of June at 7.30 pm.

Indymedia Report

They spoke about the experience of reclaiming and defending a piece of land from development. Their action has been incredibly successful, having prevented the development and protected the land from an armed police incursion.

They have been touring England, Ireland and Scotland, to give talks about taking back a piece of stolen Indigenous land from development and struggling for Indigenous Sovereignty.

Women representatives of Six Nations Territory, Canada give Sumac Talk

Six Nations of the Grand River is the name applied to two contiguous Indian reserves southeast of Brantford, Ontario, Canada – Six Nations reserve no. 40 and Glebe Farm reserve no. 40B. The original reserve was granted by Frederick Haldimand under the Haldimand Proclamation of October 1784 to Joseph Brant and his Iroquois followers in appreciation of their support for the Crown during the American Revolution. These lands were given in perpetuity as the words of the original proclamation state:

“I have at the earnest desire of many of these His Majesty’s faithful allies purchased a tract of land from the Indians situated between the Lakes Ontario, Erie and Huron, and I do hereby in His Majesty’s name authorize and permit the said Mohawk Nation and such others of the Six Nation Indians as wish to settle in that quarter to take possession of and settle upon the Banks of the River commonly called Ouse or Grand River, running into Lake Erie, allotting to them for that purpose six miles deep from each side of the river beginning at Lake Erie and extending in that proportion to the head of the said river which them and their posterity are to enjoy for ever.” Much of the land was lost during the 19th century to squatters and by theft and deceit supported by the crown and its agents.

The original tract of land stretched from the mouth of the Grand River on the shores of Lake Erie to the river’s head, and for 10 km (6 mi) from either bank, encompasing some 3,800 km² (950,000 acres).

They later welcomed a group of Delawares to the reserve. The current reserves encompass 184.7 km² (71 mi²), all but 0.4 km² in Six Nations reserve no. 40.

Six Nations of the Grand River is the most populous reserve in Canada, with a population in 2001 of 21,474. The reserve is home to members of the following nations:

Tuscarora
Seneca
Cayuga
Onondaga
Mohawk
Oneida

The current Caledonia land dispute came to the attention of the general public on February 28, 2006. On that date, protesters from the Six Nations of the Grand River began a demonstration to raise awareness about First Nation land claims in Ontario, Canada, and particularly about their claim to a parcel of land in Caledonia, Ontario, a community within the single-tier municipality of Haldimand County, roughly 20 kilometres southwest of Hamilton. Soon after this demonstration, the demonstrators occupied the disputed land.

The land at the centre of the dispute covers 40 hectares which was to be developed by Henco Industries Ltd. into a residential subdivision known as the Douglas Creek Estates. It is part of a 385,000-hectare plot of land known as the “Haldimand Tract”,[1] which was granted, in 1784, by the Crown to the Six Nations of the Grand River, for their use in settlement. Henco argues that the Six Nations surrendered their rights to the land in 1841, and Henco later purchased it from the Crown. The Six Nations, however, maintain that their title to the land was never relinquished.

***

Indymedia Report

Indigenous Woman from Ontario, Canada visit Nottingham to voice their struggle in defend of land

Native American Journalists Association

Six Nations of the Grand River Wikipedia

Six Nations Of The Grand River Territory

Turtle Island News
Canada’s only national native weekly newspaper, published every week at the Grand River Territory of the Six Nations in southern Ontario. It is a politically independent newspaper that is wholly owned and operated by Aboriginal People.

Six Nations at the Cross Roads: The Day The Trust Died
April 20, 2006 OPP Raid Kanonhstaton

Six Nations Solidarity

Six Nations Solidarity Links

Ontario Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs

Six Nations (Caledonia) Negotiations Costs to Date

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

CameraWatch was launched in Edinburgh yesterday. Despite it’s name, it is not an activist group, it is an industry-funded advisory group. However, it did start with a few tips that may be useful to activists facing prosecution using CCTV images.

“Research shows that up to 90% of CCTV installations fail to comply with the Information Commissioner’s UK CCTV Code of Practice and many installations are operated illegally. That has profound implications for the reputation of the CCTV and camera surveillance industry and all concerned with it. It‚s clear there is a need for an organisation dedicated to promoting the legal and effective use of CCTV. I’m not surprised there’s confusion. It’s a complex area not just covering appropriate siting and signage issues, but also various pieces of legislation. In particular, the Data Protection Act covers images of people and requires they are held securely if the data is to be used as legal and admissible evidence. Storing images of people is also impacted by the EU Human Rights Act. As things stand today, clever legal counsel could drive a horse and cart through most CCTV evidence and that is not in anybody’s best interests.” (except the defendents !)

http://www.firmmagazine.com/members/news.php?id=702

“The Data Protection Act is breached in several common ways. The most frequent is the failure to keep camera tapes secure. Under the Act, human images should be treated as confidential information in the same way as names, addresses and phone numbers. The arrival of digital cameras poses yet more problems; for the images can be transferred across open internet connections rather than remaining on a closed loop. Viewing monitors are often wrongly sited in public areas, so other people can see who is being filmed, and a number of the 3,500 CCTV systems are not registered under the Data Protection Act, as is required. Additionally, cameras are frequently used for another purpose than the one for which they were registered and the necessary clear signage is regularly missing.”

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article1862457.ece

90% of CCTV is illegal

Illegal CCTV Update

Last month it was reported that 90% of CCTV systems are illegal.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/05/371983.html
Someone asked how to find out more about which CCTV systems are illegal so I asked the Information Commisioners Office, who just replied.

“Not all data controllers are required to notify under the Data Protection Act 1998 for the purpose of CCTV. We have produced guidance that helps data controllers to determine whether they are required to notify for the purpose of CCTV which is available on the ICO website under the heading ‘For organisations’, then click on CCTV. We are not required, and do not to keep a list of data controllers that are not registered under the Data Protection Act 1998. Notification is a self-assessment process whereby each organisation determines if notification is required. The total number of data controllers whose notification include the purpose of CCTV P113 – Crime Prevention and Prosecution of Offenders is 49,486. We are unable to break this number down on a more local level unless you have a specific postcode/s that we could narrow the search criteria down to. If you would like the search to be narrowed to specific postcodes, please advise accordingly. Alternatively, you carry out searches on the public register of data controllers available on our website.”

Requirement to Register:

“The UK has more public and private CCTV systems per person than anywhere else in the world. Because of this, it’s an area in which we’re taking a great deal of interest. If you have a very basic CCTV system, its use may not be covered by the Data Protection Act. For example, if you’re a small shopkeeper with a couple of cameras you can’t move remotely which record whatever the system picks up and only give the recorded images to the police as a result of an incident in your shop, then you’re not covered by the Act. However, if your system is more advanced and allows you to zoom in on an individual member of staff whose behaviour is causing you concern, or you use cameras to monitor the movements and activities of your workforce, you’ll need to inform us. You’ll also need to let us know if you give the recorded images to anyone other than the police or a similar law enforcement agency. The highly sophisticated CCTV systems used in large shops, railway stations, town centres and other places where large numbers of people gather are designed to focus on particular people or identify criminal activity. These types of images are covered by the Act, but if a general scene is recorded without an incident occurring, the pictures are not covered.
In summary, if the image recorded is aimed at learning about a particular person’s activities, then it’s covered by the act.”

The search page is here:

I’ve just been playing around with their database. This database contains ALL DP records so you have to look out for mention of CCTV. The first thing I notice is it isn’t very well programmed. You have to put the postcode in with a space between the two parts of the postcode so SW11AA doesn’t work, but SW1 1AA does. [As an aside, this is the postcode for Fuckingham Palace, which returns THE PRIVATE SECRETARY FOR THE HOUSEHOLD OF HRH THE PRINCESS ROYAL, and one of the dataclasses Princess Ann records is ‘Sexual Life’ – I would love to see the subcategories she records for her employees sexual life ]. You can search on the first part of a postcode ie SW1 but if more than 100 records are found then none are returned and you are asked to refine your search. Again, sloppy, sloppy programming – I doubt any private or activist database would be this hard to search so it almost seems half-hearted, ‘security through obscurity’.

So I started searching on CCTV systems I know about. I searched on the postcode of an industrial estate that is ringed with a sophisticated CCTV system, The individual companies CCTV within that estate were returned, but no mention was made of the estates CCTV. I don’t know why and will submit a further question to the ICO about this, but at best it takes them weeks to respond. The cameras are obviously sophisticated not to be exempt from the various acts. It may be a police system and perhaps these are exempt, or it may be one of the 90% illegal systems. I’ll ask the ICO, and if I get no intelligible response, I’ll test it by breaking one of the cameras and waiting for the police to respond. Here is a sample record for a legal CCTV system – I wonder what would happen if someone committed a criminal act on the 22nd of October at that location ? There must be a lot of registered systems whose registrations are about to expire…

Illegal CCTV Update

CameraWatch
CameraWatch is an independent, not-for-profit, self-funding advisory body* that will support organisations impacted by CCTV and their understanding and compliance with current policy and legislation:

Nearly all cameras illegal, says watchdog : Times

New justice minister to launch CCTV advisory body : The Firm

Hidden CCTV

The ‘bug’ sweeper; Pro Hunter overview:

Maplins Bug Sweeper

Surveillance of Nottingham city centre

Newsnight’s ‘Ethical Man’ interviews Joss and goes with Plane Stupid to visit the head of BAA with a copy of the Tyndall Centre’s paper, ‘Growth scenarios for EU & UK aviation: contradictions with climate policy’. Not surprisingly they didn’t want to read it

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtA7_2jPNR4]

Collected Plane Stupid YouTube Videos

http://www.youtube.com/lmmesq

On the afternoon of Saturday 16th June, climate campaigners glued themselves to the doors of the short-haul East Midlands airport to draw attention to the environmental impacts of flying as part of a European day of action on short-haul flights called by pressure group Airport Watch.

Two men from climate action group, Plane Stupid, have caused disruption by supergluing themselves to the passenger entrances to the airport. Supporters are there handing out leaflets to airport customers encouraging them not to fly next time, and a banner carried by helium-filled balloons was also released in the departure lounge bearing the slogan ‘Let’s fry’.

Photos: Climate activists glued to doors at East Midlands Airport: 1 | 2

Links:
Plane Stupid |
Airport Watch |
East Side Climate Action |
Climate Camp |
Green Economics- Climate and aviation campaign |
BBC NEWS UK Politics Living under a sky of sound |
Open Skies |
Hacan ClearSkies |
Climate activist ‘super-glued to door’ of lastminute.com |
The year of Aviation |
Nottingham Plane Stupid group formed |
Nottingham East Midlands Airport – Watch this Airspace! |
Protesters occupy runway at East Midlands Airport |
Protestors shut down Nottingham East Midlands airport: Earth First Action report

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNv9plVOLAE]

Today’s day of action was called to illustrate that short-haul flights are unnecessary and unsustainable and that short haul journeys can easily be taken by train or bus which are both over ten times less polluting. Demonstrations and protests have been happening throughout the day at airports across the UK and Europe, including Heathrow, Gatwick, Bristol, Southampton, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and others.

Aviation is the fastest-growing source of greenhouse-gas emissions worldwide. In the UK, emissions from aviation more than doubled in ten years. In May the government quoted the figure of 13% as aviation’s contribution to UK climate impacts. If you include flights to and from the UK by UK citizens (the government excludes the former), the sector now contributes about 18.5% of the climate-changing emissions for which this country is responsible.

Nottingham protestor, Alex Harvey, said, “Binge-flying is choking the planet. Airport expansion would lock us into increased greenhouse gas emissions and undo all our other efforts to reduce emissions. It’s just not an option. Yet that’s exactly what is planned for airports like East Midlands which only serve destinations easily reachable by more sustainable public transport alternatives.’

Photos: Climate activists glued to doors at East Midlands Airport: 1 | 2

Last year twenty-five activists from Plane Stupid blockaded a taxi-runway at the same airport.

Last night, spent a long time in front of my computers, searching for more info, on “Orichalcum & The Deviant”, “TIP Records” and “Flying Rhino”. Some of my current favourite electronic tunes. I have never been any good at learning the language of ‘style’ of electronic music. One man’s progressive house, or goa’n trance, is not the same as what someone else means but the term. In classical or rock modes … it was frequently possible to say sommat like, similar to a Paul Rogers vocal, has some spacy keyboards work like Pink Floyd, or, exhuberant horns, Beethoven style.

You get the picture, like descripion of a style by comparison with another well-known producer. For the last 15 years, I have just simply been at sea on how to express my taste.

So, I have to learn a particular act, or record lable, and go and search for that, missing so much else that might have interested me otherwise……

Anyway ….. coming to the point. While doing this, I came across this individual, making his own music. I don’t mean your standard DJ, mixing and re-producing other peoples records. I mean original production of his own sound.

Tom Cosm is from Christchurch, Canterbury District of New Zealand. Specifically Flock Hill Station with its spectacular scenery. [puts the Peak District here, in the shade].

I am sure there are a fair few like him. But I was struck to discover that the chap had done a few video ‘lecture’ pieces on YouTube, to explain himself and his arts.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNM-3QFq9fA”>

These were just a sample of his work, check check out the rest of his series at his YouTube site at:

http://www.youtube.com/user/cosmcosm

http://www.cosm.co.nz

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire

Indymedia folks have been beavering away to bring you Indymedia content, direct to your mobile. Clearly, a ‘full framed’ Indymedia page will not fit on your mobile, so, content is divided into features or newswire. This is true for the world site, UK, and here in Nottinghamshire.

Because you generally pay for mobile internet by the Mb, it is good that this system strips out pictures, audio and video, thus delivering pages of only a few Kb.

So, from right there in the street, you can view the latest info. Further, you will be able to upload your stories, via your mobile, to our ‘publish your news’ page. And, if your up for it, can also upload pictures if your doing it with a cameraphone.

Tul Bahadur Pun VC won the Victoria Cross fighting for Britain in the 3rd Battalion 6th Gurkha Rifles. He is 1 of only 12 living recipients of this country’s highest award for valour. However, the British Government refused 84 year-old Mr Pun VC’s application to settle in the UK, to seek urgently needed medical treatment, on the grounds that Mr Pun VC “failed to demonstrate strong ties with the UK”.

After a massive campaign by the British public and supporters from all around the world, the UK Government eventually bowed to the weight of public pressure and on 1 June 2007 finally allowed the Gurkha war hero the right to live in Britain. The decision was made on the same facts that were before the officials at the British Embassy in Nepal, who had banned Mr Pun VC from Britain. Nothing had changed, save for the overwhelming and heartfelt statements for Mr Pun VC and his fellow Gurkhas made by ordinary members of the public.

Shortly after the Government announcement, Mr Pun VC was woken from his sleep at his home in Pokhara, Nepal, to be told the news that the British public had won him back his right to stay in Britain. Mr Pun VC said “I am as happy as the day I won the Victoria Cross. I would like to thank the British public, particularly my brothers and sisters in the British Armed Forces, for supporting the Gurkhas and me. I am deeply touched”. Mr Pun VC’s full Press Statement

This is Mr Pun’s full citation, which was formally published in the London Gazette, on 1944-11-07 reads as follows:-

“The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS to :- No. 10119 Rifleman Tullbahadur (sic) Pun, 6th Gurkha Rifles, Indian Army. In Burma on June 23rd, 1944, a Battalion of the 6th Gurkha Rifles was ordered to attack the Railway Bridge at Mogaung. Immediately the attack developed the enemy opened concentrated and sustained cross fire at close range from a position known as the Red House and from a strong bunker position two hundred yards to the left of it. So intense was this cross fire that both the leading platoons of ‘B’ Company, one of which was Rifleman Tulbahadur (sic) Pun’s, were pinned to the ground and the whole of his Section was wiped out with the exception of himself, the Section commander and one other man. The Section commander immediately led the remaining two men in a charge on the Red House but was at once badly wounded. Rifleman Tulbahadur (sic) Pun and his remaining companion continued the charge, but the latter too was immediately wounded. Rifleman Tulbahadur (sic) Pun then seized the Bren Gun, and firing from the hip as he went, continued the charge on this heavily bunkered position alone, in the face of the most shattering concentration of automatic fire, directed straight at him. With the dawn coming up behind him, he presented a perfect target to the Japanese. He had to move for thirty yards over open ground, ankle deep in mud, through shell holes and over fallen trees. Despite these overwhelming odds, he reached the Red House and closed with the Japanese occupants. He killed three and put five more to flight and captured two light machine guns and much ammunition. He then gave accurate supporting fire from the bunker to the remainder of his platoon which enabled them to reach their objective. His outstanding courage and superb gallantry in the face of odds which meant almost certain death were most inspiring to all ranks and beyond praise.”

This citation was read out in full on the BBC Radio 4 PM program with Eddie Mare on Thurday 31st May at about 17.30. The message board of the program was rammed. The BBC received more calls in a short space of time than for quite a while. Some of the messages read out on air the following day simply pointed out that such sacrifice, excepted him from “demonstrate strong ties with the UK”. Many admitted to crying at home or in thier cars on the way home from work.

I was one of them.

In common with 22,000 others, I signed the 10 Downing Street online petition expressing my disgust at such a crass decision.

Just how unfeeling is it possible for a government to be. He is 84 for god sake and simply asking for a little consideration.

One listener wrote in to ask if the Gurka had paid enough National Insurance Contributions for NHS treatment. He, of course, was a TWAT! The man has paid so much more.

http://www.vchero.co.uk

wikipedia entry

YouTube: Tul Bahadur Pun VC Winner of Victoria Cross

Central photo and movie database means it’s a fair cop
Andrew Charlesworth, vnunet.com 01 Jun 2007

Europeans will soon be encouraged to use cameraphones to photograph and video criminal activity to send directly to a national police database.

Dutch technology consultancy Waleli has developed MMS-witness, a system which enables citizens to send photographs or movies to a central police database as part of an emergency call.

Once viewed, the photographs or video can be sent to beat officers to increase the chances of a successful arrest or kept as evidence in further investigations.

The concept is in its very early stages. Waleli has conducted a few experiments with police in Rotterdam and is to approach forces in Sweden in conjunction with Ericsson, Waleli chief executive Siete Hamminga told vnunet.com.

Initially the system will be used to allow police and officers from other agencies, for example transport workers, to file pictures and video. But the system has yet to be opened up to the public.

MMS-witness is likely to be piloted regionally with a national roll-out once the service has been proved.

However, there are some major issues which need to be resolved before MMS-witness can be used by the public.

These include dealing with false reports and very large volumes of reports, for example in the event of a terrorist attack when hundreds of people might send in photographs or video footage of the same incident.

“We asked the police about [false reports] and they were less concerned than we were,” said Hamminga. “They are used to dealing with spoof emergency calls and anonymous reports.”

MMS-witness can be configured to ignore anonymous messages, he added.

Waleli has yet to approach police forces in the UK but expects the system to arouse plenty of interest.

Britain is already one of the most watched societies in the world with one CCTV camera for every 14 people. Britons are caught on camera an average of once every five minutes.

A survey in November 2006 conducted by YouGov on behalf of NTL Telewest (now Virgin Media) found that 80 per cent of Britons were in favour of using CCTV to fight street crime.

According to market researchers at Gartner, there are 295 million cameraphones in circulation worldwide, so Waleli’s system could significantly increase the number of “digital witnesses”.

“People see a crime committed and are increasingly deterred from intervening in case they become a victim too,” Hamminga told vnunet.com. “This will enable them to do something without putting themselves in danger.”

One rising crime that MMS-witness is unlikely to reduce is the theft of mobile phones, unless someone else is around with a cameraphone to film the theft, of course.

http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2191246/record-crime-camera-phones

Since the original incident, I have been back and forth to Nottingham Magistrates Court over a dozen time [like 12 dates so far and we’re not there yet]. All this as they all try to get their ‘ducks-in-a-row’. I am charged with ‘Obstruction of a Constable’.

There is some discussion earlier on the background to all this, but put simply, I was taking photographs of an armed police operation, in a public place. Because the case is ongoing, [bloody hell, like for 15 months so far, with months to go 🙁 ], I can’t tell to more about it till after the trial.

The National Union of Journalist [NUJ], both the national organisation and the local branch, have been of much assistance to me in all this, and I want to thank them for holding my hand, through this whole laughable process. Cheers chaps.

Collected links about it all:

Photographer is arrested taking pictures of police
Press Gazette
Thursday, 6 April 2006
By Dominic Ponsford

Met sets new press guidelines
British Journal of Photography
Date: 5 April 2006

Press V the police: case adjourned
British Journal of Photography
Date: 10 May 2006

Defend the Nottingham One!
NUJ Freelance May 2006

NUJ backs photographer in press freedom case
National Union of Journalists

Journalists and police draw up new crime scene guidelines
Hold the Front Page

My terrorism act
Guardian [Friday April 28, 2006]

Guardian – Keep power and sewage plants secret, media told

Date set for photographer police ‘obstruction’ trial

Photographer faces trial for snapping police
Press Gazette

British Journal of Photography: Police guidelines adopted
Date: 30 May 2007
Guidelines designed to help improve relations between the police and press photographers will be rolled out nationwide in the next few months, but already sceptics are voicing concerns that they will have little effect.

British Journal of Photography: Watching the detectives
Date: 30 May 2007
Katie Scott, News Editor.

These links provide some of the background to my own legal adventures with Nottinghamshire Police, after agreeing these guidelines!

Nottingham photographer arrested by armed officers

Date set for photographer ‘obstruction’ trial for snapping armed police

Further to the consultation by the home office about yet more restrictions.

Home Office Consultation Papers 1

Home Office Consultation Papers 2

Government ministers and police chiefs are demanding new powers to allow the police to stop and search people in the streets if they suspect them of terrorism. These powers echo the notorious “sus laws” of the 1970s.

‘I took a picture of Tower Bridge and was arrested for terrorism’

Photographers’ vital role is being curtailed by privacy obsession

Warning: privacy law could jeopardise the iconic news pictures of the future

hello campers.
The Royal Air Force has landed with a large Display in Market Square, Nottingham.

They have come, complete with some shiny red toys like a BA Hawk jet fighter.

Liverpool Ploughshares Acquittal

Peace activists have smashing time with genocidal aircraft

Five arrested after BAE break-in

The ‘trainer’ jet the UK loves to hawk

Hawks and Doves

Royal Air Force recruitment will hope to do a roaring trade in getting more to take the Queen’s shilling.

You can see how they do this. The younger the better. The sense of excitement, skiing, basketball, rock-climbing and playing Rambo with large guns. All designed to make you feel invincible. I have always thought that this approach lacks responsibility, don’t you?

I little bird tells me, that recruitment is well down these last couple of years, since UK Armed Services are not just being used for the national defence, but to keep interfering in foreign parts, where they’re not wanted.

All appears to be a big military showdown ! Perhaps those passin’ would like to make their views known.

http://www.raf.mod.uk

http://www.raf.mod.uk/currentoperations

I have just leant my Olympus OM-2 ‘film camera’, to a friend who wants to learn a little more about photography. Rather than some little digital ‘point-n-shoot, I thought this would be a better introduction.

I made this set of links, just for him. But I might as well copy them to you here as well.

Olympus OM2 – index [5 pages].htm

Olympus OM2 – Instruction Manual [9 pages]

Olympus OM2 – map.htm

Olympus OM2 – mapom2.pdf

Olympus OM2 – spec.htm

Olympus OM2 – specom2.pdf

ONE EYE ON THE ROAD – Tash’s Blog! nov 2002

ONE EYE ON THE ROAD – Tash’s Blog! Olympus Kit

Don McCullin – Unreasonable Behaviour Front Cover

Today’s issue has a couple of articles about the guidelines, police etc …. both of which feature me.

here is what they say:

>>>>

Title: Watching the detectives
Date: 30 May 2007

‘If you get to the officers, they know about the guidelines and will bend over backwards to accommodate you. But the rank and file just don’t seem to like the media’. These are the words of seasoned press photographer and British Press Photographers Association honcho Jeff Moore.

It has been a momentous battle for photographic and journalistic bodies to agree the guidelines they believe are needed to improve relations between the press pack and the police. And now it looks as if the guidelines, which have already been adopted in London, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire, are to be made available across the country.

But what’s the point of printing out thousands of booklets and handing them to police officers if they are ignored when the heat is on? After the July 2005 London bombings, press photographers claimed that they were denied access to scenes with cordons set up so far away that they could not get their shots.

Photographers also complain that they are preventing from capturing far less cateclysmic events as well. Both Alan Lodge and Andy Handley were told to stop photographing incidents on their local beat, and when they pointed out their rights, were arrested and their kit confiscated. With the support of the NUJ, Handley has received an apology. But Moore says many photographers, when facing this sort of obstruction, don’t want to cause problems. ‘Most photographers don’t complain, but they should. You have to take the police officer’s number then make a formal complaint, otherwise things won’t change’.

Things are changing, but education is needed amongst police officers. The guidelines should be explained to police cadets, and the prejudice that the press are intrusive pests banished. As Moore says simply: ‘We need to get across to the police that we are not trying to stitch them up’.

Katie Scott, News Editor.

http://www.bjphoto.co.uk/public/showPage.html?page=448758

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Title: Police guidelines adopted
Date: 30 May 2007

Guidelines designed to help improve relations between the police and press photographers will be rolled out nationwide in the next few months, but already sceptics are voicing concerns that they will have little effect.

The guidelines were first set out in a landmark agreement between key press organisations – including the National Union of Journalists, the Chartered Institute of Journalists and the British Press Photographers Association (BPPA) – and the press bureau at New Scotland Yard early in 2006 (BJP, 05 April, 2006). The decision to pen the guidelines was as a result of worsening relations between the press and police, notably during the London bombings of July 2005, when press photographers complained of ‘gratuitous obstruction’.

In response, and after months of negotiations, the Metropolitan Police Force adopted a nine-point ‘best practice’ guide to working with media personnel, though it stopped short of making them part of the force’s operational orders. Police forces in Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire have both already adopted their own guidelines, however, after further negotiations, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has now agreed that the guidelines will be rolled out across the country.

ACPO spokeswoman Lisa Vasco told BJP: ‘We are hoping to get the guidelines out to all forces nationwide in the next couple of months. It will then be up to the separate forces to decide what they do with the guidelines once they get them.’

John Toner, freelance organiser at the National Union of Journalists, was instrumental in the talks and is confident that they will have a positive impact how police officers handle press photographers. ‘I have been in negotiations with ACPO for eight months. It has now told me that the roll-out will happen and I hope it will have an effect nationwide’.

Lack of knowledge
However, others are sceptical. BPPA spokesman Jeff Moore, who is also a freelance press photographer, said that his experiences in London would suggest that the guidelines are not always effective. ‘Some police officers, even if they know what the media guidelines are, don’t take any notice of them. The guidelines have been with the Met for nearly a year now but if you deal with the average police officer, they don’t seem to know about them.’

Meanwhile, in Nottingham, press photographer Alan Lodge made his tenth court appearance on 11 May to fight a charge of obstructing a police officer. Lodge was arrested on 18 March 2006 while attempting to photograph an incident on Alfred Street in Nottingham (BJP, 05 April).

He alleges that he was asked to stop photographing by an officer on the scene, but refused, producing his press card and pointing to the police/press guidelines. The police claim that Lodge next became ‘aggressive’ and arrested him for assault on a police officer. He was next ‘de-arrested’ for this offence but, after asking for his camera kit back, was then charged with breach of the peace – a charge that was later altered to obstruction of a police officer.

A trial was set for 17 October 2006, but adjourned because the contents of the photographer’s memory card had been requested as evidence from the Crown Prosecution Service by the photographer’s defence team, and weren’t made available in time. Lodge’s next court appearance was 02 March, when his case was again adjourned. At this time, NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear told BJP: ‘Alan had a perfect right to photograph in a public place a matter of clear public interest. If the court takes away that right then all of us will suffer as it will have a chilling effect on the exercise of press freedom. The court should throw these ludicrous charges out and make a clear statement about the rights of press photographers.’

Following similar circumstances in Milton Keynes, a press photographer of 30 years has received a formal apology from the local police force and had a obstruction caution rescinded. Andy Handley, a photographer for the MK News, was handcuffed and arrested after trying to take a photo of a road traffic accident on 12 September, 2006. It was reported at the time that Handley was taken to a police station, photographed, fingerprinted and DNA tested before being held in Central Milton Keynes Police cells. His case was taken up by the NUJ.

http://www.bjphoto.co.uk/public/showPage.html?page=448744

onwards and upwards ………..

Previous links to the original incident, and issues about it all …..

Arrested for taking pictures! [again]

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE POLICE
GUIDELINES FOR THE POLICE AND MEDIA AT INCIDENTS

Another ‘armed’ turnout’ of Nottinghamshire Police. [another false alarm]

Gun Crime and Police response – Collected Links

Spring in Action [Climate Week] in Nottingham

Climate Issues, Collected picture set

Climate Issues, Collected picture set

* * * *

ANNOUNCEMENT OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION EXERCISE

http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/operational-policing/powers-pace-codes/PACE-Review

Tony McNulty MP Minister of State for Crime Reduction, Policing, Community Safety and Counter Terrorism today (14 March 2007) announced the commencement of a public consultation exercise to look at the potential to Review PACE.

The public consultation exercise will run until 31 May 2007. The aim of the Review is to ask stakeholders, practitioners and the public for ideas and proposals which will:

* provide police and other relevant agencies with appropriate and proportionate powers to tackle crime
* remove barriers enabling more effective targeting of criminals
* remove unnecessary bureaucracy
* free up more time for police officers to take up operational duties outside the police station
* remove areas of complexity and providing clearer, more accessible powers for both practitioners and public, and importantly
* promote the needs of victims and witnesses.

Responses and suggestions can be submitted by e-mail to pacereview@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk, using the response template or in free
text.

Review of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984: Consultation Paper

http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-and-publications/publication/operational-policing/PACE-review

This is scary, I mean it and say again, this is scary! I am against terrorism as much as the next man. BUT, I don’t think the way to combat it, is by creating a police state.

The annual Green Festival, was held in the Arboretum on Sunday 27th May, between 12 – 5pm.

There were various stalls, information and assorted bands and acts on the bandstand. It rained ….. then it rained a bit more. But in spite of the bank holiday weather, a couple of hundred folks attended showing their great british pluk under such conditions. Oh and did I meantion it rained ……

There was still a smile to be seen, now and again, at the event. A highlight for me was the industial scale bubble machine. I was quite supprised that the bubbles survived under such heavy rain.

Perhaps there is a university physicist out there, that can explain why the bubbles didn’t get blatted? I just wondered really.