“Ian Tomlinson ruling: can we trust officers to police protests fairly now?” – Marc Vallée, The Guardian.
Here is a Comment is free for Liberty Central by yours truly on the CPS decision not to bring criminal charges against a highly trained Metropolitan police territorial support group officer who struck Ian Tomlinson at the G20 protests last year.
“The Media Show” – BBC Radio 4.
I was a guest on BBC Radio 4′s Media Show today which is hosted by Steve Hewlett.
“Earlier this month the government said police would need stronger grounds before stopping and searching photographers on suspicion of terrorism. While welcoming this repeal of s44 of the Terrorism Act, photographer Marc Vallée says he still has concerns about police conduct, which he puts to ACPO’s spokesman on this, Craig Mackey, Cumbria’s Chief Constable.”
You can also download a podcast of the show from here.
“Victory Flashmob – Section 44 is Dead!” – londonphotographers.org
“Campaigners claim victory over Stop & Search ruling” – PhotographerNotaTerrorist.org
Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow. First round is on the Met!
“Police use of protest photos will face review” – The Financial Times.
Here is a link to an article by Michael Peel, FT Legal Correspondent; James Boxell, FT Home Affairs Correspondent and yours truly in The Financial Times today on police surveillance. Do you want to know what a left-wing Labour MP, the deputy Prime Minister’s ‘interfaith and extremism’ adviser and maybe you have in common? If so then read on or pick up a copy.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 02.05.08. A civilian police photographer films and photographs working journalists outside City Hall on Friday 2 May 2008 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2008.
“Journalists win payout after police admit failing to respect press freedom” – Paul Lewis, The Guardian.
“The Met’s apology to journalists is only of value if it acts upon it” – Olly Zanetti, The Guardian.
“Photographers win damages in Met Police legal case” – British Journal of Photography.
“Photographers win human rights victory over police” – Amateur Photographer.
“Police pay damages and apologise to photojournalists” – Press Gazette.
Here is the press round for the Greek Embassy case. Right, now back to work.
“The Met’s apology to journalists is only of value if it acts upon it” – The Guardian.
Olly Zanetti‘s excellent Comment is free in the Guardian on the Greek Embassy win.
“Victory for NUJ members, human rights and press freedom” – nuj.org.uk
“Police pay damages to journalists for breaching their right to report” – bindmans.com
“A Victory for Press Freedom” – londonphotographers.org
Jason Parkinson and I have won our Greek Embassy case against the Metropolitan Police. This is a significant victory for press freedom.
Here is the police apology in full:
“On 8 December 2008 well-respected political journalists Marc Vallée and Jason Parkinson were reporting a protest outside the Greek Embassy, Holland Park, London. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has accepted liability for breach of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The MPS apologise for this and have paid compensation. The MPS confirms its recognition that freedom of the press is a cornerstone of democracy and that journalists have a right to report freely. The MPS recognise that on 8 December 2008 they failed to respect press freedom in respect of Mr Vallée and Mr Parkinson.”
Click here for the full NUJ press release.
Past blog posts:
“Journalists launch civil action against police” – marcvallee.co.uk/blog
“Police to investigate Greek embassy incident” – marcvallee.co.uk/blog
“Video: Journalists obstructed at Greek Embassy protest” – marcvallee.co.uk/blog
“Can I have my lens hood back officer?” – marcvallee.co.uk/blog
“Branch Secretary Stepping Down” – londonphotographers.org
I’m stepping down as Secretary of the London Photographers’ Branch to prioritise my work as branch Legal Rep. Below is the text of an email I sent to Branch Committee members on 3rd June 2010:
“I have decided to resign as Branch Secretary.
“In the first six months of the Branch’s life a great deal has been achieved. The highlights for me have been the Branch discussions on The Future for Photography with Martin Argles along with Kelvin Bruce and John Harris, the Ethics & Photojournalism meeting with Stuart Freedman and the hugely successful Hostile Reconnaissance rally – the only major civil liberties event of note during the general election campaign.
“The positive outcome of the last six months is that the Branch has recruited new members each month and without doubt is becoming the voice of London photographers.
“As all Branch officers know the time and energy we put into the Branch is voluntary. The best use of that limited time and energy for me is to focus on supporting members who have had a negative encounter with the state and to defend media freedoms as the Branch Legal Rep.
“I will not step down as Secretary until the Branch has elected a new Secretary and I hope that will take place at the June Branch meeting.”
“Speaking up for press freedom” – Marc Vallée, The Guardian.
Here is my Comment is free on last nights Hostile Reconnaissance – Terror Laws, Civil Liberties and Press Freedom rally organised by the London Photographers’ Branch of the National Union of Journalists.
Do we need a press freedom bill?
A legal definition of who is a journalist is problematic but both news gathering and journalism need legal protection.
For me a press freedom bill would not be about giving individual journalists more legal protection then any other citizen. What it could do is give the act of news gathering legal protection. The film footage by a New York fund manger of the attack on Ian Tomlinson at the G20 in London last year by a TSG police officer was a very important act of news gathering by a member of the public who was not a journalist.
In the hands of Paul Lewis and The Guardian that film footage become journalism. The police did visit The Guardian office to put pressure on The Guardian to remove the film from its website. Thankfully The Guardian stood up to this pressure. Legal protection in that context would be a step forward.
We have a common law right to take a picture in a public place. Court rulings over privacy, counterterrorism laws and police action threaten that common law right. I would like that right to be protected for all.
Updated: 15.04.10.
“Hostile Reconnaissance – Terror Laws, Civil Liberties & Press Freedom” – London Photographers’ Branch of the NUJ.
I’m one of the speakers at the London Photographers’ Branch pre-election rally next week along with Jeremy Dear, General Secretary National Union of Journalists; Paul Lewis, Guardian journalist & British Press Awards Reporter of the Year 2010; Keith Ewing, Professor of Public Law at King’s College London & author of Bonfire of the Liberties; Henry Porter, Observer columnist, author & London editor of Vanity Fair and Chez Cotton, Head of Action Against the Police at Bindmans Solicitors & a co-ordinator of the Police Action Lawyers Group.
Hostile Reconnaissance: Terror Laws, Civil Liberties & Press Freedom at 7pm on the 13th of April at Friends Meeting House in Euston.
Click here for more information.
