1.   Discussion -  “Stop Thief”: How Proposed Changes to the Law Will Make It Easier  for the Police & Media Owners to Grab Your Work.

Introduced by: Andrew Wiard (LPB, NUJ – NEC), Kaitie Wheatley (Bindman LLP, Joint head, Criminal Law) & John Toner (NUJ National Freelance  Organiser), Roy Mincoff (NUJ solicitor)

2.   Nibbles break

3.   Attendance – 26

4.   Apologies – John Harris, Jason Parkinson, Jess Hurd

5.   Minutes ( 26 / 03 / 13 Branch meeting) – Accepted

6.   Matters arising (from minutes) – None

7.   Membership

Full –  John Ritter /  Temporary – Duilio Marconi

Both elected into membership

 

8.   Branch sites organisation -

Philip Wolmuth, Michael Preston, Guy Smallman, Matt Aslett, Paul Mattsson elected as Facebook Moderators.

 

9.   Motions

1/ LOOK/13, the second edition of Liverpool’s international photography biennial, will be launched on 17 May 2013. The event-packed opening weekend kicks off a four-week programme of exhibitions, talks and tours, workshops, competitions and screenings.

Redeye invited the LPB to supply facilitators for a  ”Photographer’s Boot-camp” in Liverpool on 18 May  2013. This workshop is aimed at photographers who want to campaign on a  range of issues affecting  photographers, including:  access, law, copyright and protecting freedom of expression.

Redeye has agreed to pay expenses for two facilitators. The LPB agrees to send a third person to the event.

Therefore, the LPB agrees with the Branch committee’s decision that:

a: Tracy Howl and Matt Aslett go to the Redeye Liverpool event

b. Paul Mattsson also go to the Event at LPB expense

VOTE:  Carried unam

 

2/  Photographers’ Council

The LPB agrees to nominate Steve Kettle to stand for the South East seat of the Photographers’ Council

Proposed by: Andrew Wiard

Seconded by:  Matthew Aslett

VOTE:  Carried

 

3/  The LPB agrees with the Branch committee recommendation that:

Marc Vallee be co – opted onto Branch committee

VOTE:  Carried

 

4/  Greater Manchester Police Production Order

The NUJ has always stood up for press freedom and has successfully opposed police Production Orders against photojournalists since at least the late 1970s.

The London Photographers’ Branch notes with deep concern that at a hearing on 17 April 2013 at Manchester Crown Court the NUJ agreed on behalf of LPB member Jason Parkinson to hand over to the police unpublished video footage of the Bolton UAF demonstration against established NUJ policy.

In view of the serious consequences likely to follow from this significant case this branch requests the General Secretary urgently to commission advice from a senior specialist lawyer such as Mr Gavin Millar QC, who successfully overturned the similar Chelmsford Crown Court decision in the Dale Farm Production Order case. This advice to address:

1) the possibility of annulling the Crown Court decision

2) the lessons that are to be learned from the Manchester case

3) what advice the NUJ should offer its members to minimise the risk to them of having their material seized in future 4) what other measures the NUJ might usefully consider to defend the independence of its members.

 

Proposed by:   David Hoffman

Seconded by:  Owen Liddle

VOTE:  Failed (with 7 votes against, 3 votes in favour & 5 votes abstaining)

 

Moved to suspend Standing Orders to extend Branch finishing time by 15 minutes:

Agreed

 

10.  Elections -

1/ Branch Chair –  Philip Wolmuth

VOTE:  Unam

 

2/ Branch welfare officer –  Marc Vallee

VOTE:  Unam

 

11. Reports -

1/   Rory Peck –  call for submissions for this year’s awards

2/   Working with other branches

3/   Data protection /  Review in context of Branch / committee privacy of meetings

4/   International report –  up-to-date report on attacks on journalists working in many countries

5/   New attendance sheet circulating asking to insure signing it

6/   May day celebrations in Clerkenwell

7/   No reports of confrontations with security / police during Thatcher funeral probably because of work done by Branch before 2012 Olympics and advice posted before funeral

8/   Reported that £195.21 in Branch account

9/   Andrew Wiard & Carole Edrich elected to the Photographers’  Council

10/    Reported that conversations will take place with The Guardian photographers

11/    Referred to current issue of The Journalist regarding selling work as a freelance

12/    Jason parkinson resigned as Branch chair & Pete Maclaine as welfare officer and both from Branch committee

13/    Agreed to cancel Branch and committee meetings in August

14/    Our delegate to the CPBF (Campaign for Press and broadcasting Freedom) was unable to attend its NC (National Committee)

 

12.  A.O.B.

1/  100′s attended recent INTO THE FIRE event & more than 6000 hits at its site

 

Meeting ended:  8.15

Minute taker – the secretary

 

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