A press photographer arrested at the scene of a car crash over three years ago has been awarded more than £5,000 in damages from Thames Valley Police.

Andrew Handley, who has been with the MK News for 14 years, was taking shots from behind a police cordon at what he called “an ordinary car crash” in September 2006 in the Stony Stratford area of Milton Keynes.

A sergeant demanded he handed over the pictures and camera but Andrew tried to inform the officer he was entitled to take photos from behind the cordon.

He was arrested, handcuffed, cautioned and detained for eight hours at Milton Keynes Police Station where his fingerprints and DNA were taken.

Both the law and guidelines from the Association of Chief Police Officers make it clear the police officers are not allowed to restrict or prevent the press from taking photographs.

Andrew, who has 34 years of experience as a photographer, said: “I explained that I was entitled to do my job and assumed I would be allowed to continue. Instead I found myself with my hands cuffed behind my back and in a police cell.

“As the hours ticked past I started to get more and more worried. I thought it would all be cleared up in a matter of minutes.

“It’s a great relief that I’ve been cleared. I was concerned that I’d have a criminal record and a caution hanging over my head when I knew perfectly well that I hadn’t broken the law.”

Andrew contacted the National Union of Journalists which instructed its lawyers Thompsons Solicitors to pursue a claim for compensation for unlawful imprisonment and assault.

Although the caution was swiftly rescinded, it has taken nearly three-and-a-half years to finalise compensation of £5,250.

Buckinghamshire Police Authority has also apologised for the unlawful arrest and Andrew’s fingerprints and DNA records have been deleted.

NUJ legal officer Roy Mincoff said: “It is a worrying scenario when the police restrict media freedoms in unlawful ways.

“We will be monitoring the way in which our agreed guidelines on how the police should deal with the media are enforced and will continue to raise these issues with senior officers, government ministers and members of parliament.”

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: “Mr Handley was arrested on suspicion of obstructing an officer in the course of duty. He was subsequently given a simple caution.

“We have issued a full apology to Mr Handley and have rescinded his caution. His fingerprints and DNA records have also been removed from the database.

“We would again like to take this opportunity to apologise to Mr Handley for any distress this incident has caused him.”

Comments

matt (04/01/2010 13:16:27)
Drinks on you, Handley!

Journo 1 (04/01/2010 16:35:14)
So if the precepts go up for Thames Valley residents in April Taxpayers can blame it on the Police for not doing their job properly (again)?!

Neil Barker (04/01/2010 23:27:48)
Photographers 1, Plod 0 :-))

Peter Gee (19/08/2010 13:43:30)
Well done! I hope the b*st*d who did the arrest gets a right dressing down from his CC. Sadly it is the ratepayers who foot the bill for such police idiocy.