Two North East journalists were stopped and searched by police while conducting a vox pop in a town centre street.

Photographer Peter Benn and reporter Joanna Desira, from the Evening Gazette, attracted the attention of two police community support officers in Middlesbrough.

The Gazette reports that the PCSOs asked the duo what they were doing and cited the Terrorism Act as the reason for the stop and search before demanding to see ID.

Peter and Joanne explained they were from the Gazette but still had to provide identification to prove who they were.

Gazette editor Darren Thwaites said: “We are very supportive of police efforts to tackle real criminals, but this is beyond a joke.

“Officers must not be allowed to pervert an act that was designed to protect us against terrorism, into one that erodes people’s civil liberties.

“There was no justification whatsoever for stopping our journalists from going about their lawful business.”

Assistant Chief Constable Sean White told the Gazette: “Members of the press have an absolute right to go about their business fairly and without incident and there are no restrictions on any aspects of journalism on Teesside.

“Equally in a busy town centre members of Cleveland Police do have a right to ask for identification to establish the purpose of those who might be involved in photography around crowded built up urban areas and public space.

“Police officers and police community support officers of the force have been briefed to ask to pay attention to crowded places but that is part of counter terrorism national strategy.”

The Gazette says Mr White insisted the PCSOs “were not exercising any similar powers under terrorism legislation”.

In February hundreds of photographers gathered outside New Scotland Yard, in London, to protest over the new Counter Terrorism Act 2008 which some snappers feel is being used to prevent legitimate photography in public places.

Comments

Alan Salter (21/07/2009 09:55:03)
How many times have we wished the police would stgop us doing a vox pop?

FAST WOMAN (21/07/2009 10:36:49)
I’ll tell you what was may have alerted suspicions.
In other parts of Trinity Mirror land a vox pop reporter would have to take all the photos themselves on a digi, as well as get the ‘I don’t really know’ stuff into a notebook.
But here she was, apparently with a real photographer taking proper photos. Bit unusual,that.

Journo 1 (21/07/2009 11:21:19)
It is a bit ridiculous but why didn’t the reporters have press cards? Couldn’t agree with you more FAST WOMAN on the photo taking!

Ossie (21/07/2009 12:48:13)
All very funny, guys, but there is a serious issue here (and it’s not the indignity of voxpops).
I do a lot of street photography and have been stopped several times outside my “patch”. Go armed with a digi card crammed with boring images of bricks, or weeds, or anything that you can show the small-minded Adolfs that you are doing nothing illegal, unpleasant, pornographic or even terror-orientated. Then insist they look at other pics that you haven’t shown them … of bricks, weeds et al! Watch ’em run….

R McGeddon (22/07/2009 08:52:50)
It was seeing a reporter out on the street instead of glued to their damn desk that made them suspicious…

hack (22/07/2009 16:22:36)
Journo 1, as the story makes clear, the DID have identification, and were forced to show it, but didn’t save them from being suspected of being part of an Al Qaeda Vox Pop cell..

jason hurst (10/08/2009 16:12:08)
fastwomens comments about a real snapper on a vox pox is usual, esp if you work for the mk citizen, they seem to thrive on them and waste a real snappers time doing them! as for the the hobby bobbies,peescos and for the ral police they can poke their cockaheemee rules!

David Murray (16/09/2009 13:53:54)
It should be remembered that, even under anti-terrorist legislation, a constable may ask your name but you are not obliged to give it unless being reported for an offence. That offence must exist and excuses such as: ‘acting suspiciously’ or ‘taking photographs of sensitive buildings’ (Steve Carroll – Humberside Police) or ‘suspected of taking photographs of children’ (me – Derbyshire Police) do not amount to any offence known to law. It is important to ensure that, when venturing out with a camera, you do not have anything on you with your details on. Although under PACE 84 a constable may search you, they rely on being able to find something with your details on to negate the restriction they encounter if you take advantage of section 3 (3)of PACE. Any arrest for refusal gives grounds to sue for unlawful arrest etc and a handsome payout at the end of it.