Link.

“Police told to respect the rights of journalists at protests” – National Union of Journalists.

Here is a link to a statement from the National Union of Journalists in response to the report that was published by The Joint Select Committee on Human Rights this week. The report criticised police treatment of journalists (especially photojournalists) who cover protests.

Plus here is what the media press had to say about it.

“MPs: Police obstruction of journalists is unacceptable” – Press Gazette.

“Parliamentary committee calls for police training in role of protest journalists” – blogs.journalism.co.uk

“Parliament berates police over treatment of press” – British Journal of Photography.

Report (PDF).

“Police accused of misusing terror laws against peaceful protests” – The Guardian.

“Police ‘heavy-handed at protests’” – BBC News.

The Joint Select Committee on Human Rights has criticised the police today in it’s report, “Demonstrating respect for rights? A human rights approach to policing protest”, of police treatment of journalists (especially photojournalists) when covering demonstrations.

The report says,

“It is unacceptable that individual journalists are left with no option but to take court action against officers who unlawfully interfere with their work. Journalists have the right to carry out their lawful business and report the way in which demonstrations are handled by the police without state interference, unless such interference is necessary and proportionate, and journalists need to be confident that they can carry out their role. The public in turn have the right to impart and receive information: the media are the eyes and ears of the public, helping to ensure that the police are accountable to the people they serve. Effective training of front line police officers on the role of journalists in protests is vital. Police forces should consider how to ensure their officers follow the media guidelines which have been agreed between ACPO and the NUJ, and take steps to deal with officers who do not follow them.”

Good stuff but, “unless such interference is necessary and proportionate”, I have to say this part of the conclusion worries me for all the obvious reasons.

My understanding is that the National Union of Journalists will issue a statement later today on the report. One thing I will say is this, how the police treat journalists/photographers covering the G20 protests next week will be something I’m sure many of us will be watching and if need be report on in full.

Evidence (PDF).

“I’m A Photographer… Not A Terrorist” – Jason N.Parkinson, Current TV.

Here is a short film from my good friend and colleague Jason N.Parkinson about the mass photo taking event that took place outside New Scotland Yard last Monday. Enjoy!

Here are a few more press clipping (in no particular order) from the media event  “I’m a Photographer … not a Terrorist” from early in the week.  If I have missed anything good feel free to post a comment with a  link.

“VIDEO: Hundreds demonstrate their freedom to photograph” - National Union of Journalists.

“EFJ Supports UK Photographers in Counter Terrorism Act Protest” – International Federation of Journalists.

“Law threatens news photographers” – Roy Greenslade, The Guardian.

“AUDIO: Drivetime News” – BBC Radio Wales.

“AUDIO: Drivetime News” – BBC Radio Scotland.

“AUDIO: News” - BBC Radio Scotland.

“Why the ex-boss of MI5 is now standing up for press freedom” – Roy Greenslade, Evening Standard.

“Photographer Not a Terrorist” - londonist.com

“Press gang takes to the streets” - British Journal of Photography.

“Counter Terrorism Act 2008 : new provisions set to “limit” photography in a public place” – gcnchambers.co.uk

“BROADCAST” - aljazeera.net

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 16.02.09. Photographers stage a mass photo taking event outside New Scotland Yard on Monday 16 February 2009 in London, England. The event, called by the National Union of Journalists, marked the enforcement date of section 76 of the Counter Terrorism Act 2008 which could prevent the media and public from taking pictures of the police . (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2009.

Well done for the big turn out for “I’m a Photographer … not a Terrorist” media event outside New Scotland Yard yesterday.  Here are a few press clipping (in no particular order) from the day.  If I have missed anything good feel free to post a comment with a  link.   Also, it would be great if you posted a link to your pictures of the event as well.

“Police share photographers’ worries about terror law” - National Union of Journalists.

“Hundreds demonstrate their freedom to photograph” - National Union of Journalists.

“Journalists protest photo law” – BBC London Tonight.

“Is it a crime to take pictures?” -  BBC News.

“Photographers angry at terror law” -  BBC News.

“Photographers protest outside Scotland Yard over new anti-terror law” – telegraph.co.uk

“Calling the police to account” – Henry Porter, The Guardian.

“New law making it an offence to photograph a policeman should worry us all” - telegraph.co.uk

“Police protest over terror law ban on holiday snaps” – The Standard.

“Photographers stage protest outside Scotland Yard against anti-terror laws” – The London Paper.

“London News: Around 150 photographers hold mass photo shoot outside Scotland Yard in protest at new anti-terror law” – The London Paper.

“300 join police picture protest” – The Morning Star.

“Photographers converge on new Scotland Yard” - British Journal of Photography.

“400 photographers in Scotland Yard police terror protest” – Press Gazette.

“Met Police: Terror law ‘a real risk’ to photographers” - Press Gazette.

“Do not make us the ‘secret’ police” – Metropolitan Police Federation.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 16.02.09. Photographers stage a mass photo taking event outside New Scotland Yard on Monday 16 February 2009 in London, England. The event, called by the National Union of Journalists, marked the enforcement date of section 76 of the Counter Terrorism Act 2008 which could prevent the media and public from taking pictures of the police . (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2009.

Link: Click here to view more pictures.

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

“Documenting dissent is under attack” – The Guardian.

“Photographers fear they are target of new terror law” – The Guardian.

The Guardian reports on section 76 of the Counter Terrorism Act 2008 today here and with a comment is free post from me here.  See you all on Monday!

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.

Monday 16th February 2009 is the enforcement date for Section 76 of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008.   As the British Journal of Photography 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’.”

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.

Yesterday I attended the Joint Committee on Human Rights at House of Commons.  Vernon Coaker MP, Minister of State for Policing, Crime and Security gave oral evidence to the committee on policing and protest.

This follows on from the evidence Jeremy Dear the General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists gave to the committee on police surveillance and harassment of journalists and photographers in October and the evidence that Acting Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison from the Metropolitan Police, Deputy Chief Constable Sue Sim from the Association of Chief Police Officers and Constable Neil Hickey from the Police Federation of England and Wales gave in November.

Audio: Policing and Protest 09.12.08.

You can hear what Vernon Coaker had to say by clicking on the above link.   Nine minutes into the to the meeting the issue of photogapher rights comes up and the committee comes back to this issue a number of times and it’s well worth listening to the whole tape for that.

After what happened to me the day before when covering a protest in west London I have to say sitting in committee room five in the Palace of Westminster listing to the minster give evidence was a bit surreal at times but interesting all the same.

“Human rights stop police confronting danger” – telegraph.co.uk

“Arms protest policing criticised” – BBC News.

On Tuesday I attended the Joint Committee on Human Rights at House of Commons.  Acting Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison from the Metropolitan Police, Deputy Chief Constable Sue Sim from the Association of Chief Police Officers and Constable Neil Hickey from the Police Federation of England and Wales gave oral evidence to the committee on policing and protest.

This follows on from the evidence Jeremy Dear the General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists gave to the committee on police surveillance and harassment of journalists and photographers last month.

It was very interesting to hear the police give evidence.  From attacking Mark Thomas and his Mass Lone Protests in Parliament Square to the Human Rights Act and asking for a  new law of “enforced notice” of all protests across United Kingdom was chilling.  The police did not make it clear how this “enforced notice” of protest would work but some kind of UK wide SOCPA law seemed to be on the police agenda.  The police tried very hard to give the impression that all was okay and just let us get on with doing our job.

Evan Harris MP also asked Chris Allison a number of questions on police surveillance and harassment of journalists and photographers.

Audio: Policing and Protest (25.11.08).

You can hear this exchange by clicking on the above link.  It’s one hour and 23 minutes in. Chris Allison made it very clear that the Metropolitan Police do not have any right to stop photographers from taking a photograph of the police (or anyone else) in a public place and that the police are accountable.

Fine words indeed and this is all well and good but as anyone who works on the front line covering protests will know this is not always the case.  After all it was under Chris Alison watch that this happen to me.   So what has fundamental changed?

Vernon Coaker MP, Minister of State for Policing, Crime and Security will give evidence to the committee in December.  I will report back with more then.