Posts Tagged ‘Press Freedom’

NUJ Opposes Boris Byelaws

1st February, 2012

Letter to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport
cc’d Mayors Office & City Hall Press Office

Dear Sir

The National Union of Journalists, London Photographers’ Branch notes with great concern the proposed introduction of new byelaws covering Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square. We are specifically concerned with the restrictions on press photography in these areas without prior written consent:

“Acts within the Square for which written permission is required: take photographs or film or make any other recordings of visual images for the purpose of or in connection with a business, trade, profession or employment or any activity carried on by a person or body of persons, whether corporate or unincorporate.” Read the rest of this entry »

Boris Johnson, Byelaws, Parliament Square, Photography, Press Freedom, Trafalgar Square
Posted in News by Jess Hurd | 5

Why I’m resisting the Dale Farm Production Order

12th December, 2011

Tomorrow morning, Tuesday 13 December 2011, I will head to Chelmsford Crown Court to oppose a production order application by Essex Police to seize all my footage from the Dale Farm eviction.

The production order, calling for all footage shot on 19 and 20 October, is also being served upon other news outlets.

I am resisting the order with the full support on the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and legal support from Bindmans Solicitors. The handing over of material, either published or unpublished goes against the NUJ Code of Conduct. Read the rest of this entry »

dale farm, essex police, Press Freedom, production order
Posted in News by Jason Parkinson | 11

Met Apology for Photographer’s Parade Arrest

9th December, 2011

Police officers block Jules's camera, dislodging a lens hood, during the incident. photo Jules Mattsson

The London Photographers’ Branch congratulates its member Jules Mattsson in winning his case against the actions of the Met police when he was covering an Armed Forces Day parade in Romford last year. Jules kept calm, recorded the incident and argued for his rights in an intimidating encounter with the police. During the encounter he was abused, assaulted and threatened under the Terrorism Act and falsely imprisoned. Jules was 15 at the time and a student but had the support of branch officials at the scene and the national union in successfully pursuing justice with the help of leading civil rights solicitor and friend of the NUJ, Chez Cotton.

NUJ Legal Officer Roy Mincoff said:

“This was very poor and unlawful behaviour by a senior police officer, trying to intimidate a young NUJ photographer. It is not acceptable conduct, has no place in the police force and is hardly likely to gain respect for the police amongst the youth of the UK. The police have now recognised this, apologised and compensated our member. The NUJ will continue to hold the police to account to ensure that the vital rights of journalists, enshrined in law, are upheld, to enable reporting and photographing to continue, as part of the democratic framework of our society.”

Read the full Bindmans statement:

Met Commissioner compensates journalist arrested for taking photographs in public place and told to stop “running round acting silly, being stupid and gay”

Bindmans, Chez Cotton, Homophobia, Homophobic, Human Rights, Jules Mattsson, Justice, Metropolitan Police, NUJ, Phnat, Police, Policing, Press Freedom, Roy Mincoff
Posted in News by Jess Hurd | 1

NUJ demand apology from Nottinghamshire Police

8th December, 2011

The National Union of Journalists is demanding an apology from Nottinghamshire police after video tape was seized from a student videojournalist covering the ‘Occupy Nottingham’ protests.

Film & TV student Lewis Stainer in front of the protest camp. photo © Alan Lodge

From the NUJ Nottingham Branch:
Today, the NUJ has written to Nottinghamshire’s chief constable Julia Hodson calling for the apology to be made in person to 20-year-old Lewis Stainer, a student at New College in Nottingham.
Last Friday he was given back his film after it was seized on Monday 21st November by the police for evidential reasons. Lewis had been filming in the old Market Square for his course project when police made four arrests at the Occupy Nottingham camp. Subsequently two people were charged with offences.
National officials of the NUJ have also decided today to give Lewis Stainer legal support while the union’s legal officers carry out a full investigation into the incident. Lewis who’s studying a BTEC in TV and Film says he wants an apology as well as compensation for the stress and inconvenience he experienced in having his coursework seized.
The union is increasingly unhappy at the number of problems involving photographers across the country.
Diana Peasey, chair of the Nottingham NUJ branch said ‘we know photographers are under increasing pressure here. They’re often told they can’t photograph crime scenes or face having their camera or material seized by police under section 19 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. It is done all too frequently.’
‘We have our own Police and Media guidelines which the NUJ negotiated with the Nottinghamshire police. Section 7 says specifically:
‘Police officers do not have the authority to prevent a person taking a photograph or to confiscate cameras or film and such conduct could result in criminal, civil, or disciplinary act.’
Ms Peasey said “It is clear that the PACE legislation is overriding the Media guidelines and we need to toughen them up to ensure that the police understand they cannot intimidate photographers and journalists at crime scenes or major incidents.”
Meanwhile, Nottinghamshire Constabulary’s Complaints and Misconduct unit is also looking into the incident.
Diana Peasey, chair, Nottingham NUJ branch.

Material ‘acquired or created for the purposes of journalism’ is Special Procedure and protected from seizure in this way under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. The London Photographers Branch is strongly against the use of journalistic material as evidence.

Members approached by the police for your material you should contact the NUJ immediately. During office hours you can contact the NUJ Legal Department on 020 7843 3721. If you urgently need help you call the 24hr NUJ emergency legal helpline on 0800 5877530.

Additional coverage: BBC, ITV, Indymedia, Further on Indymedia, HTFP

LPB Posts on Seizure of Material:

Journalists not Evidence Gatherers

We Are Press Not Police Intelligence

Protecting Journalistic Material

Law, Police, Press Freedom
Posted in News by Jules Mattsson | 3

Police Powers Seminar

11th October, 2011

Police powers of arrest, detention and seizure for journalists.

An NUJ members only event with Bindmans Solicitors

Date: Thursday 17 November 2011 Venue: 275 Gray’s Inn Road, London Time: 5.20 pm to 7.10 pm

Introduction

This free seminar organised by Bindmans LLP and the NUJ will explore the issues surrounding ‘a free press’ and the protection afforded to journalists in relation to the criminal justice system. It will offer practical guidance on police powers and investigations. Read the rest of this entry »

Bindmans, Law, NUJ, Photographers, Press Freedom, rights
Posted in News by Jess Hurd | 5

LPB Condemns EDL Attacks

5th September, 2011

An EDL supporter grabs the camera of a photographer during the Tower Hamlets protest: © Jules Mattsson

On Saturday, 3rd September supporters of the English Defence League (EDL) travelled from around the country to a ‘static’ demonstration on the edge of Tower Hamlets in East London.

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and London Photographers’ Branch (LPB) has received numerous reports of harassment, threats, physical assaults, racist abuse, bottles and fireworks being thrown and photographers being punched and kicked. One journalist was subjected to a sexual assault and another NUJ member suffered minor burns and required medical attention after an EDL supporter used a flammable accelerant to set him on fire.

Branch Secretary Jason N. Parkinson said: “LPB condemns the attacks on journalists by supporters of the English Defence League (EDL) during Saturday’s protest.

“These attacks are just the latest in a long history of violence, threats and even fatwas issued on the press and there is only one reason behind them all – to intimidate and deter the media exposing the violent and racist behaviour of the far right.

“An attack on the press is an attack on press freedom and on our democracy.”

NUJ offers support and assistance to members following attacks during EDL protest

EDL, Press Freedom, tower hamlets
Posted in News by Jason Parkinson | 2

Journalists Not Evidence Gatherers

15th August, 2011

The disorder that swept England recently has calmed, leaving untold destruction, injury and a number of deaths in it’s wake. Lens-based journalists are often in the frontline of these situations to report, receiving aggression from all sides.

Already a number of photographers have been injured and mugged while covering disturbances, radio cars burnt and TV networks have had to pull their crews out of entire areas. The risk to media workers in this sort of situation is massive, especially to those who have to work with visible equipment.

Read the rest of this entry »

Ethics, Evidence, NUJ, PACE, Police and Criminal Evidence Act, Policing, Press Freedom, Riots, Safety
Posted in News by Jules Mattsson | 2

Security Guards – Home Office Meeting Report

4th August, 2011

On Friday 15 July LPB and other photography groups attended a meeting with the Home Office and senior police officers from counter terrorism to discuss guidance for security guards and how effective communication could be established between security industry and photographers. Read the rest of this entry »

Home Office, Olympics, Phnat, Police, Press Freedom, private security, Project Griffin, Security Guards, Terrorism
Posted in Reports by Grant Smith | 4

Solidarity Message for Injured Belfast Journalist

22nd June, 2011

The London Photographers’ Branch sends a message of solidarity and best wishes to injured NUJ member Niall Carson, who was shot in the leg while covering sectarian clashes in East Belfast on Tuesday 21 June.

The NUJ website reported NUJ Irish secretary Séamus Dooley said: “Niall Carson was injured while doing his job. It is vital that journalists should be allowed to carry out their duties without fear of attack from any quarter. This incident is part of a sinister assault on the people of Northern Ireland. The riots of the past two days represent a wider attack on the community, who have a right to live in peace. Our thoughts are with all those who have suffered as a result of the riots over the past 48 hours”.

NUJ general secretary-elect Michelle Stanistreet said: “This shooting is a sharp reminder of the dangers faced by media workers in conflict situations. Journalists and their employers must be mindful of the safety implications of covering conflict situations, while there is also a responsibility on the police to ensure that the media are allowed to carry out their duties in the public interest”.

belfast, naill carson, NUJ, Press Freedom, sectarian
Posted in News by Jason Parkinson | 0

PHNAT Pamphlet Launch Party

25th May, 2011

Over the last few months PHNAT have been working on a pamphlet that celebrates the history of the I’m a Photographer, Not a Terrorist! campaign. It’s launch party will be at the AoP Gallery at 7pm on the 14th June with free refreshments kindly sponsored by ING Media.

The pamphlet entitled, I’m a Photographer, Not a Terrorist! – A brief History is fully illustrated over 20-pages, written by the campaign’s founders and organisers and will be available for free at the event. It will also be available to download online after the event or you can request a free copy by sending a double stamped self-addressed envelope to Photographer Not a Terrorist, 308-312 Gray’s Inn Rd, London WC1X 8DP.

The National Union of Journalists and the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom have funded the production of the pamphlet, the London Photographers’ Branch and British Press Photographers’ Association have supported the pamphlet.

There’s going to be a callout for images to be shown at the party soon, watch the PHNAT site!

All welcome!

I’m a Photographer, Not a Terrorist!, NUJ, Phnat, Press Freedom
Posted in News by Jess Hurd | 0

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