Press Freedom: "Collateral Damage"

Well reported. Thank You for taking the time to make this.

As a card carrying photographer myself these scenes unfortunately are very familiar. I think all that's needed is a little training in the law for those that are paid to enforce it and perhaps some action to ensure we keep what freedoms we have left.

Excellent film.Stopping anyone trying to just tell a story is draconian. We need witness to all authority otherwise how do we know they are working for the people and not against us.

We would love to show it at our BeyondTv festival in November

Thanks for the response.

You are right, these scenes have become more common in the last few years, although I have to say on my last job out last week relations between myself and the FIT Teams were good. But despite this, still I caught several officers with photo and video cameras feeling the need to document that I was covering that specific protest, when myself and other journalists were well away from the demonstrators.

So, yet again, this can not be considered "collateral damage". And it has to be asked for what purpose does this aid other than intimidation or surveillance?

Unfortunately the training on behalf of the law is already there. If you read the article "Unfair Cops" in last month's NUJ journalist magazine (link above) you will see the 2006 guidlines agreed upon by the NUJ and Met police force, and that very experienced photographers and journalists have offered to assist in education and training of "passing out" officers. That was refused for some reason.

So the training is there. And the guidelines to halt these incidents. But, as someone once said, it doesn't matter what is agreed on paper when you're on the street, face to face with a riot cop who can't hear a word your saying, or see your press card, because of the armoured helmet on their head.

An excellent article. Please could journalists report their experiences of policing incidents that occur when covering 'public order situations' - including incidents of police officers being especially courteous and helpful - via the policing incident report form at http://www.londonfreelance.org/policing/

Thanks

Matt Salusbury
Assistant Editor, the Freelance

top quality film. I think it accurately reflects the pressure that real journalists are under when they go out to research an event/story rather than just taking official statements. Thanks for making it.

What is desperately needed is for a photographer or journalist to refuse to provide his details on a stop and search, as allowed under PACE s3 (3). Arrest will follow and although it is highly unlikely that person will be charged, such person will be able to bring a private prosecution for assault, unlawful abduction, false imprisonment etc. An interesting statute is the Trades Union and Labour Relations Act 1992 section 241. This makes it a summary offence to stop a person workin by using or threatening violence. It is not confined to the picket line. Another tactic is to threaten the police officer with an application in the Magistrates Court for a binding over order under the Magistrates Courts Act 1980 section 115. Extensive publicity of such proceedings as I have outlined would put a brake on police excesses. Fight back using the laws that are threre to protect us. I cannot wait.

Keep up the good work Jason!

Very interesting and disturbing article. Thank you for making this.