The Home Secretary has appeared to give the ‘green light’ to police officers to monitor and even restrict journalists and photographers covering public events.

In a letter to the National Union of Journalists, Jacqui Smith says the Home Office produces no guidance on photography in public places.

But she adds that “…decisions may be made locally (by police) to restrict or monitor photography in reasonable circumstances”.

Ms Smith’s letter also said: “The Government greatly values the importance of the freedom of the press.

“It is for the local Chief Constable to decide how his or her officers and employees should best balance the rights to freedom of the press, freedom of expression and the need for public protection.

“I know that Tony McNulty MP has agreed to meet you shortly and I have asked him to stand ready to discuss your concerns in greater detail.”

The letter was in response to concerns raised by NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear last month.

He wrote to the Home Secretary calling for an end to routine monitoring by police of journalists and photographers covering public events.

Jeremy said: “We’re pleased the government has offered to meet the NUJ and will raise our serious concerns about the ongoing surveillance of journalists.

“Whilst the government can say these are operational issues for the police, it should be made clear that the routine surveillance of journalists is unacceptable and an infringement of media freedom.

“We are concerned that some of the Home Secretary’s comments appear to give a green light to police officers at a local level to impose their own unacceptable restrictions on the rights of photographers covering public events.”

In April, Great Grimsby MP Austin Mitchell tabled an Early Day Motion calling for the protection photographers’ rights.

Support for the EDM has grown significantly with over a third of all MPs – 231 – adding their names.

Comments

Mick Gell (18/07/2008 22:02:34)
The confusion by police officers on duty at large public events concerning photographers must be a matter for clear and decisive understanding, all to often each officer even at the same event makes a separate decision leaving photographers in an impossible situation. Clear it up now.

A Photographer (07/08/2008 12:06:12)
I see how infringement of media freedom works from both sides I am an uniformed (emergency service) Photographer and also do freelance work (non uniformed) and also as a hobby. As a uniformed photographer I have no problem photographing anything. People, buildings with out permission in public areas. I fined the public and other services very obliging when asking for permission and have never been confronted by the police or security in my work.
Out of uniform it is a diffrent matter I have the same camera, camera bag and the same face. The same approach to meeting and talking to people ect
In the past 5 years I have been manhandled by the police, threatened with an air gun by a member of the public and approached and questioned by security guards (out of uniform)
The hysteria that has been built up around press photography and photographers with SLR cameras mostly by the police and security services in the name of homeland security “the war on terror” is wrong.
FACT: If the security services stopped and questioned every person that took a photograph of the World Trade Centre before the 9/11 attack, there is no evidence that it would have an effect on the outcome of the attack or lead any quicker to solving who was responsible for this terrible act.
In the UK There is no clear guide lines for the police and the statement on the MPS police poster “what if one of them seems odd” referring to photographers, is out of context. Everyone’s perception of “what is odd” is diffrent.
Terrorists don’t need to take photos they can get them form tourist information or on line and aireal mapping and photos from goggle earth.
Lets get this thing right by giving back the photographer back there respect and right to work in public as a job or as a hobby, Giving the police real direction and proper guidelines in the “war on terror” and give the photographer the chance to help homeland security. they are the real eye on the street. Remember post incident the police need photos and video from before and after the incident to help them!!

A Photographer (09/08/2008 09:55:01)
We need to protest on the streets in every town and city in the UK. show our strength on a set day by photographing everything on mass.
“freedom of photography day” Fact; more people own cameras than own footballs. Fact;more people own cameras now than ever in the history of photography.

ian (21/01/2009 18:34:30)
The concern is just if survielence is to ‘grade’ the reporting abilities of journalists. By that; not the textual content; rather the ‘alegiance’ of the journalist to whatever organisations as percieved by the police.