LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 24.07.08. New Scotland Yard the Headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, London, England on Thursday 24th July 2008. The Metropolitan Police have come under increasing pressure from National Union of Journalists due to numerous complaints about how the police deal with the media, particularly at public events and demonstrations. (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2008.
Media Event: “I’m a Photographer … not a Terrorist”
Hosted by the National Union of Journalists and supported by the British Journal of Photography and the British Press Photographers’ Association.
New Scotland Yard, Broadway, Westminster, London SW1H, UK. (Map)
Monday 16 February 2009.
11am.
“NUJ, activists and BJP calls for photography rights event” - British Journal of Photography.
Monday 16th February 2009 is the enforcement date for Section 76 of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008. As the British Journal of Photography (BJP) wrote last month,
“The relationship between photographers and police could worsen next month when new laws are introduced that allow for the arrest – and imprisonment – of anyone who takes pictures of officers ‘likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism’.”
To read the full BJP article, click here.
So with that the National Union of Journalists has teamed up with Mark Thomas (writer, broadcaster, comic and political activist), Chris Atkins (the BAFTA nominated director and writer of the feature film documentary Taking Liberties), Marc Vallée (Photojournalist – that’s me by the way), The British Journal of Photography and many more for a “media event” outside New Scotland Yard on Monday 16 February 2009 at 11am.
The plan is simple, turn up with your camera and exercise your democratic right to take a photograph in a public place.
Here is a link to a Fackbook page for the event. Please note that this event is NOT a Protest! It’s just photography!
See you on the 16th folks!
Update – 06.02.09: NUJ Media Release:
“Photographers snap into action over new law” – National Union of Journalists.
“Comedian Mark Thomas is to join with NUJ members in an event to highlight the threat of a new UK law that could be used against press photographers taking pictures of the police.”
Click here to read more.
Tags: ACPO Association of Chief Police Officers Chris Atkins Counter-Terrorism Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 Counter-Terrorism Bill 2008 Crime and Security FIT Forward Intelligence Team Free Press Freedom Home Office Human Rights Jeremy Dear Joint Committee on Human Rights Mark Thomas Media Event Media Freedom Media Restriction Media Workers Metropolitan Police Minister of State for Policing National Policing Improvement Agency National Union of Journalists National Union of Journalists New Scotland Yard PACE Photographers Photography Police Police and Criminal Evidence Act Police Federation Police Surveillance Police Violence Press Freedom Press Freedom Collateral Damage Section 43 Section 44 Section 76 Special Procedure Material State Repression Surveillance Terrorism Terrorism Act Terrow Law and Photography Vernon Coaker MP War on Terror
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I was a terrorist…
During the G8 celebrated in Scotland I was arrested with a group of 20 persons when they where blocking the motorway in Stirling.
I showed my press pass. But they treat me like a criminal.
I was 2 day arrested in Falcrik prission and they keep all my photo material for 7 months, plus 3 trips I had to go to the court.
At the end my case was released because the police didn’t come to testify.
This is their democracy.
x.
I have advertised this event on my blog. Am appalled at this latest erosion of civil liberties by New Labour. I will also be there on the 16th.
[...] organised by Mark Thomas, National Union of Journalists (NUJ), British Journal of Photography, and Marc Vallée to protest outside New Scotland Yard by simply, taking [...]
[...] “I’m a Photographer … not a Terrorist” – Media Event – New Scotland Yard -… [...]
This is just awful. It’s bad enough as it but the new laws will leave photographers will very little rights.
See you on Monday!
[...] 76 non-Protest There’s an event happening at New Scotland Yard tomorrow 10.30am that is absolutely not protesting police misinterpretation, over-zealous use of and occasional [...]
[...] ‘I’m a Photographer …not a Terrorist’ Counter Terrorism Act 2008 Documenting dissent is under attack Photographers fear they are target of new terror law UK Photographers Rights Photographers Rights And The Law In The UK and Rights On Arrest [...]
[...] LINKS » ‘I’m a Photographer …not a Terrorist’ » Counter Terrorism Act 2008 » Documenting dissent is under attack » Photographers fear they are [...]
Yes, she was a pointless muppet.
Not only is the legislation stupid, it isn´t clear either!
My blog:
http://www.photographersvsterrorists.wordpress.com
I want to improve it so shoot your comments!
Marina
I was stopped by a PCSO at the request of a railway manager today for taking photos of travel chaos at a station. The reason for the stop was given as Section 44 of Terrorism Act, although I suspect the railway manager’s motivation had more to do with management of press ‘message’ than fear of terrorism. Bad news, good luck with your campaign
See this film, ‘Policing the Public Gaze’, http://www.worldbytes.org/programmes/013/013_004.html, for information on the good that photographing and filming in public does, and how it’s being undermined.