Front page of the Press Gazette, 15.08.08. Published here by kind permission of the Press Gazette. (c) Press Gazette, 2008.

“Photographers at climate camp allege rough treatment at hands of police” – Press Gazette.

“NUJ slams Climate Camp policing” – nuj.org.uk.

“Kent Climate Camp: Police Interest Turns To Journalists” – jasonnparkinson.blogspot.com.

“Climate Camp: Journalists And Protestors Exactly The Same In “Police State” Kent” - jaonnparkinson.blogspot.com.

The treatment of journalists by police at the Camp for Climate Action in Kent a few weeks ago was at times heavy and over the top.   After many years covering protests I got stopped and searched for the first time.  Over the week I was stopped and searched three times as well as being pushed and shoved a few times.  One stop and search outside the main gate of the camp took 40 minutes which cut in to the two hour media slot we had to cover the camp each day.  And the second stop and search took about half an hour which delayed us filing images of a violent arrest by police early that day.  You can view film footage of both of searches via the links above to Jason N. Parkinson’s blog.

Sadly most of this was predictable but being followed by the police as a group of us (both freelancers and staffers) went off to file at a local McDonalds (free WIFI) a few miles down the road was something that was not predictable.  Things got very surreal when officers started filming us through the window of the McDonalds.  Six journalists all with laptops out working and filing images and being filmed by the police, the question is for what purpose?  Let’s just say the legal folks are taking a look at this one.

NUJ General Secretary, Jeremy Dear, said: “The police must recognise that journalists have a job to do and allow them to go about their business. There are clear guidelines laying out how the police should deal with the media, and we expect these guidelines to be adhered to.”

NUJ Legal Officer Roy Mincoff added: “We are looking into various legal avenues to challenge this unwarranted conduct by the police. It is simply unacceptable for members of the press to be obstructed in their work in this way.”

KINGSNORTH, KENT, UNITED KINGDOM – 09.8.08. A police officer pushes back the media as officers attempt to arrest a male activist on a march from the Camp for Climate Action to Kingsnorth Power Station Hoo, Kent, England on Saturday 9th August 2008. 2,000 campaigners marched on the Power Station with the aim to shut it down. (Photo Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2008.

DERBYSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM – 16.08.08. Anti-fascist protesters attempt to break through a police cordon in the village of Codnor, Derbyshire, England on Saturday 16th August 2008. Protesters had congregated to protest against a festival organized by the far right British National Party on a farm outside of the village of Condnor. (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2008.

“BNP protests lead to 33 arrests” – BBC News.

Link: Click here to view more protest pictures.

Clients: Pictures are available for rights managed editorial licensing. High resolution images are available on request.

KINGSNORTH, KENT, UNITED KINGDOM – 09.8.08. Two mounted police officers raise their batons amongst protesters as police move in to arrest a man as environmental activists march on Kingsnorth Power Station Hoo, Kent, England on Saturday 9th August 2008. 2,000 campaigners marched on the Power Station with the aim to shut it down for the day. (Photo Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2008.

Link: Click here to view more protest pictures.

Clients: Pictures are available for rights managed editorial licensing. High resolution images are available on request.

HOO, KENT, UNITED KINGDOM – 09.8.08.  A young male protesters marches from the Camp for Climate Action camp site to Kingsnorth power station Hoo, Kent, England on Saturday 9th August 2008.   The 2008 Camp for Climate Action is being held near Kingsnorth Power Station in Kent.  2,000 campaigners marched on the Power Station with the aim to shut it down. (Photo Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2008.

Link: Click here to view more protest pictures.

Clients: Pictures are available for rights managed editorial licensing. High resolution images are available on request.

KINGSNORTH, KENT, UNITED KINGDOM – 08.8.08. Police stop and search an ITV (Meridian) Broadcast Crew outside the main gate of the Camp for Climate Action Hoo, Kent, England on Friday 8th August 2008. The broadcasters had just left the climate camp when member of west Yorkshire police stopped and searched them under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act. (Photo Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2008.

Link: Click here to view more protest pictures.

Clients: Pictures are available for rights managed editorial licensing. High resolution images are available on request.

KINGSNORTH, KENT, UNITED KINGDOM – 08.8.08. A women is forcefully arrested by police outside the main gate at the Camp for Climate Action Hoo, Kent, England on Friday 8th August 2008. The 2008 Camp for Climate Action is being held near Kingsnorth Power Station in Kent. The week long camp is hosting hundreds of workshops on sustainable living and the politics of climate change. At least 2,000 campaigners are expected to take part in mass action to shut down the Kingsnorth power station. (Photo Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2008.

Link: Click here to view more protest pictures.

Clients: Pictures are available for rights managed editorial licensing. High resolution images are available on request.

KINGSNORTH, KENT, UNITED KINGDOM – 08.8.08. A young man on lookout duty on top of a red van at the Camp for Climate Action Hoo, Kent, England on Friday 8th August 2008. The young man had been on look out duty all night and into the next day at the back gate/barricade at the camp where riot police had previously tried to enter the camp with force. The week long camp is hosting hundreds of workshops on sustainable living and the politics of climate change. At least 2,000 campaigners are expected to take part in mass action to shut down the Kingsnorth power station. (Photo Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2008.

Link: Click here to view more protest pictures.

Clients: Pictures are available for rights managed editorial licensing. High resolution images are available on request.

HOO, KENT, UNITED KINGDOM – 07.8.08.  A young at the Camp for Climate Action Hoo, Kent, England on Thursday 7th August 2008.  The 2008 Camp for Climate Action is being held near Kingsnorth Power Station in Kent.  The week long camp is hosting hundreds of workshops on sustainable living and the politics of climate change.  At least 2,000 campaigners are expected to take part in mass action to shut down the Kingsnorth power station. (Photo Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2008.

Link: Click here to view more protest pictures.

Clients: Pictures are available for rights managed editorial licensing. High resolution images are available on request.

HOO, KENT, UNITED KINGDOM – 06.8.08.  A young man recycles a bottle at the Camp for Climate Action Hoo, Kent, England on Wednesday 6th August 2008.  The 2008 Camp for Climate Action is being held near Kingsnorth Power Station in Kent.  The week long camp is hosting hundreds of workshops on sustainable living and the politics of climate change.  At least 2,000 campaigners are expected to take part in mass action to shut down the Kingsnorth power station. (Photo Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2008.

Link: Click here to view more pictures.

Clients: Pictures are available for rights managed editorial licensing. High resolution images are available on request.

HOO, KENT, UNITED KINGDOM – 04.8.08. Two young brother on a hay bale barricade at the Camp for Climate Action Hoo, Kent, England on Monday 4th August  2008.  A police officer explains to the brothers why their father can not enter the Climate Camp.  Police arrested two environmental activists at the barricade. Twelve protesters have been arrested so far as the 2008 Camp for Climate Action is being held near Kingsnorth Power Station and at least 2,000 campaigners are expected to take part in mass action to shut down the power station. (Photo Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2008.

Link: Click here to view more protest pictures.

Clients: Pictures are available for rights managed editorial licensing. High resolution images are available on request.

HOO, KENT, UNITED KINGDOM – 04.8.08. A young boy on a stand off between police and protesters at the Camp for Climate Action Hoo, Kent, England on Monday 4th August  2008.  Twelve protesters have been arrested so far as the 2008 Camp for Climate Action is being held near Kingsnorth Power Station and at least 2,000 campaigners are expected to take part in mass action to shut down the power station. (Photo Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2008.