London Photographers' Branch

Instead we are holding two Christmas parties in conjunction with other branches.   For the party on 8 December the branch is organising a slide show of members’ work from 2014. Send up to 6 of your favourite images, or up to 2 minutes of video, to Matt Aslett ([email protected]).  Images should be 1000 pixels on the longest size and watermarked with © yourname.

THE NEXT BRANCH MEETING / ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING WILL BE ON 27 JANUARY 2015,  AT HEADLAND HOUSE, 5TH FLOOR AT 6 PM.

THERE WILL BE A BRANCH COMMITTEE MEETING ON O6 JANUARY.

6.00pm Tuesday 25 November, Headland House, 308-312 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8DP

Another topical discussion given recent events on the streets of London. NUJ Freelance Organiser John Toner will outline some of the strategies employed by the NUJ over the past few years to ensure the safety and correct treatment of accredited news gatherers. Meanwhile Guy Smallman will offer a few tips for keeping safe and acting within the NUJ’s recommended framework for public order situations. Drinks & nibbles as always followed by a detour across the road to the Lucas Arms.

The LPB and the London Freelance Branch are holding a joint Christmas party:

7.00pm Monday, 08 December

Headland House (5th floor)

308/312 Gray’s Inn Rd, WC1X 8DP

For this party the branch has agreed to organise a slide show of members’ work from 2014. Send up to 3 of your favourite images, or up to 2 minutes of video, to Matt Aslett ([email protected]) by 25 November.

We are also holding a joint party with London Central Branch:

6.30 pm Thursday, 11 December

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

145 Fleet Street EC4A 2BU

photo © Philip Wolmuth

6.00pm Tuesday 28 October Headland House, 308-312 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8DP

This month’s branch meeting will focus on digital workflow. Our resident geek Matthew Aslett will give an illustrated demonstration of how to get those images out quickly, and how to use social media platforms to reach the widest possible audience.

We will also be discussing the forthcoming election of The Journalist magazine editor.

We are still in urgent need of a branch secretary. If you might consider standing, either on your own, or as a job-share, please contact a committee member (contact info on the Committee page of the website) or just come along to Tuesday’s meeting.

6.00pm Tuesday 30 September Headland House, 308-312 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8DP

The NUJ has issued advice to members covering this week’s NATO summit in Newport.

Guidance for NUJ members and members of IFJ and EFJ affiliated trade unions when dealing with police or private security personnel.

• Immediately confirm you are working as a journalist. Show your press card and show that it can be verified by your personal identification number.
• ACPO [Association of Chief Police Officers] media guidelines confirm the police have no legal power or moral responsibility to prevent or restrict what journalists record.
• Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) the police have no power to seize journalistic material without a court order.
• Private security personnel on public property generally have no additional rights other than that of an ordinary citizen .
• You can be asked to leave whilst photographing or reporting on private property; you could be arrested and charged with trespass if you refuse.

Do NOT physically resist.

If you are involved in an incident:

• Try to film or record the conversation so that there is a record.
• Get witness names and contact details, also badge numbers of police officers.

Police Powers
Stop and Search – Police and Criminal Evidence (PACE) Act 1984. You don’t have to give your details but it is best to cooperate. Show your press card and be prepared to have your card verified by its personal identification number. Under this Act, the police must:

• Provide their ID, name and police station.
• Tell you the object of proposed search.
• Provide a search record (important in case of any later legal action).
• Call Police Press Bureau number to help resolve local issues 0207 230 2171 (24h)
• Call NUJ emergency number below

If Arrested
You will be taken to a police station. Police are not entitled to seize journalistic material without a court order from a judge.

• Make sure the custody record logs your journalistic material (kit/phone/memory cards etc), protected under PACE as ʻSpecial Procedure Materialʼ. Make a note of the seal numbers on the evidence bags, ensure they are listed on the custody record.
• You have the right to inform someone of your arrest. Police must ensure this happens swiftly

FOR  NUJ  EMERGENCY  LEGAL  ADVICE call mobile  800  587  7530 or 07967 730038 or
landline 0800 587 7530

A police press office has been set up to deal with inquiries during the NATO summit. Lens-based journalists who have difficulty gaining access to areas that are not restricted can call one of these numbers for assistance:  01633 645 761/767/777. The office will be staffed 24 hours per day from today until 11pm on Saturday, September 6.

To file and report or for further legal advice please contact NUJ legal  department on [email protected]  or call 0207 843 3704 or 07921 700 352

General and media information about the summit.

For further information about the NUJ see www.nuj.org.uk  

The branch is functioning without a secretary and will be holding an election for the post at its next branch meeting (29^th July). If you are a full member of the branch and would like to stand, please get in touch with one of the committee members (contact details on the Committee page of this site) or just come along to the meeting. It’s a chance to make a vital contribution to the branch in collaboration with other committee members. The workload isn’t great: taking the minutes at one branch meeting and one committee meeting a month, and plenty of support if you need it. Job-sharers are welcome.

At our our June branch meeting this Tuesday we will be hosting an open discussion on ‘Who speaks for photographers in the NUJ?’ 

6.00pm Tuesday 24 June, Headland House, 308-312 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8DP