Police Obstruction of Journalists at London Greek Embassy Protest

Really out of order that police are stopping journalists from filming and photographing.

Some months back a senior police officer - I think a chief constable - said if he had evidence that one of the officers under him put a hand in front of a reporters camera he would consider it a serious disciplinary offence (I think he actually said "a sacking offence".) It's the duty of the police to give reasonable assistance to journalists, and certainly not to obstruct them in in their work like this.

These police should be up on a charge - and the evidence here is so clear. Well done Jason

This is ridiculous, and seems to be becoming more and more common.
Surely the police should be focusing on the protesters if anything, not on harmless photographers who are simply attempting to document the event, without even being remotely close to the subjects!

Well, it's not ridiculous - it makes sense. The Greek state has crossed a line, and the Greek people are responding. The British state supports the Greek state, and they own the police... so what should we expect? They are focusing on doing what they do best, keeping those in power... in power.

Pleased to hear it. And I hope you and Jason end up with a full apology.

But I hope they will also consider the policing more widely. So far as I can see from the video there was really no reason to ask photographers to stay on the other side of the road - where they were essentially unable to take pictures. They seem to have been determined to take on the press as well as the demonstrators.

As I've often said to them, our presence should be welcome to them - except when they are doing something they want to hide. It is only at a very few events with a huge scrum of photographers that we actually get in the way - as would any other crowd. 99% of the times when I'm told to move back there is seems to be no real justification for the action. Though of course I always do what they ask, at least for long enough to avert confrontation. And there is never a justification for an officer standing deliberately in front of me or holding a hand in front of a lens.

I was stopped and searched Wednesday 10 Dec 2008 while filming a similar demonstration at the Greek Embassy in London. I caught it on tape and put it on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxXfcgC67Z4

The stop and search starts about half way in.

Is it Metropolitan Police policy to discourage the media from reporting these protests? Is it coincidence that the protests are in solidarity with protests against police violence?