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Journalist slams police after being told murder scene visit ‘not essential’

Amir RazaviA journalist has criticised police after being told his visit to a murder scene where four bodies were found was not “essential travel”.

Amir Razavi, who used to work for Brighton daily the Argus, has hit out at the “ridiculous” stance taken by an officer at the scene in the village of Woodmancote, in Sussex.

Amir now works as a reporter for Ferrari Press Agency and travelled to the village after the bodies of two adults and two children, along with that of a pet dog, were found at a house there.

The National Police Chiefs Council has sent guidance to police forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on working with journalists during the coronavirus outbreak, which explains that journalists are covered as key workers.

But Amir, pictured, told The Argus: “Journalists attending a murder scene – where four people including two kids have sadly died – to accurately report the news ‘isn’t essential travel’, according to a Sussex Police officer in Woodmancote.

“None of his colleagues have so far agreed with that ridiculous view.”

The bodies of Kelly Fitzgibbons, 40, and Robert Needham, 42, were found alongside their children Ava Needham, four, and Lexi Needham, two, last Sunday (29).

A murder investigation was launched, but detectives say they are not seeking anyone else in connection with the matter and described it as an “isolated incident”.

A Sussex Police spokesman told The Argus: “We recognise that journalists are key workers providing an important and valuable service in communicating news about COVID-19.

“Officers and staff have been made aware of this in relation to the presence of the media, but we would expect journalists to rigorously observe government guidelines around social distancing, carry recognised ID and especially to consider the elderly and vulnerable if they are making enquiries locally.”

18 comments

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  • April 6, 2020 at 10:25 am
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    What a dreadful, mealy-mouthed response from the police. “We recognise that journalists are key workers…” perhaps in much the same way that I recognise jumped up police officers but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. And then the next, only key workers in terms of Covid-19, everything else is not an issue.

    “Officers and staff have been made aware of this in relation to the presence of the media” in other words we got it wrong but we aren’t going to apologise. And then a patronising reminder of what journalists should be doing. Dreadful and shame on them.

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  • April 6, 2020 at 10:31 am
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    I see it differently
    In the current crisis I don’t feel it’s essential to travel to visit a crime scene.
    What’s to be gained by doing so?
    If an image is needed ,and in light of publishers all but eradicating photographers, use Google street view which appears to be the go to medium for so many these days.

    Also it’s ‘children’ referring to them as ‘kids’ is wholly inappropriate and disrespectful

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  • April 6, 2020 at 11:54 am
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    If I see the phrase “sadly died” in the press once more I shall scream . It’s becoming one word – as in “sadlydied” – as though you can’t just say “died” . Of course it’s sad, but you don’t have to say so every time!

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  • April 6, 2020 at 12:03 pm
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    i really hope you aren’t a journalist @richardson if you cannot and have never seen the value of attending a crime scene especially in these circumstances.

    And whilst I agree that “sadly died” and “kids” have no place in news copy, as a quote it is perfectly fine.

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  • April 6, 2020 at 12:48 pm
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    It’s exactly these unprecedented times and these specific circumstances I’m talking about @PercyHoskins
    In case you’ve not seen or heard the constant pleas and advice from all quarters the message is loud and clear ‘do not travel unless your journey is absolutely necessary’
    Visiting a crime scene in the middle of a crisis such as this is not essential travel

    And irrespective of whether it’s in print or given as a quote calling children who have been murdered ‘kids’ is wholly disrespectful

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  • April 6, 2020 at 1:07 pm
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    One officer makes a mistake, at a very testing time and once again some of you see fit to deride the whole force. Shame on you.

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  • April 6, 2020 at 1:20 pm
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    Of course journalists and photographers should attend crime scenes. Apart from the virus crisis suggesting that Google Street View images should be used is playing into the hands of the haven’t a clue newspaper managements who have sucked the life out of papers with their incessant cutbacks. Quality is now a thing of the past. It’s crazy to suggest reporters and photographers shouldn’t attend news scenes. The bosses think they can use the Facebook formula getting away with Google Street View photos and generally lowering quality coverage. But don’t forget you charge for your papers… Facebook is FREE.

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  • April 6, 2020 at 1:36 pm
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    The quote from the police hints that he was door knocking older people without ID?

    “we would expect journalists to rigorously observe government guidelines around social distancing, carry recognised ID and especially to consider the elderly and vulnerable if they are making enquiries locally.”

    I have seen at least four bylines for different photographers, none of who have commented on social media if they had any problems. That’s me speculating as the Argus story doesn’t ask these questions.

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  • April 6, 2020 at 1:39 pm
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    @ex JP No one has derided the whole police force but the reaction of the press office.

    @Richardson yeah, yeah sure.

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  • April 6, 2020 at 4:50 pm
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    Jeez! I never thought I would ever read on this website that a Google Street View image is in anyway acceptable to illustrate a story as big as “four bodies found”! A visit to a crime scene can get names of the deceased, atmospheric pics of floral tributes as well as names of people leaving the tributes that might still be at the scene and have something to say, the scale of the police operation, etc. When do big stories being covered properly stop being essential? We’re told this is a war and we all know the first casualty of war is the truth!

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  • April 6, 2020 at 4:56 pm
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    Totally agree with @Richardson about driving to a crime scene being wholly unnecessary given the current climate and the directive of strictly essential travel only. 6 month ago I would have applauded a reporter leaving his desk and heading out,door knocking and seeking on the spot quotes and reactions but despite being given key worker status,everyone is advised only to travel when absolutely essential and this isn’t good enough reason.
    With regards to the suggestion of using Google images, whilst no substitute for professional photography,under the circumstances it’s probably better than a blunts iPhone snap or something lifted off someones post on Facebook so I can see the thinking.
    @ExJp there will always be those quick to damn and point the finger even in such trying and difficult times,I agree it’s shameful

    @DeadDigitalHorse I would like to agree but I can’t remember the last time I actually saw a news photographer, least of all one accompanying a reporter covering a story,I think it was probably late 90s

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  • April 7, 2020 at 9:45 am
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    I’d like to apologise to everyone I’ve clearly offended. I’m afraid I’m one of those reporters who believes that we have a duty to attend scenes even in the most trying of circumstances.

    For me attending a crime scene has always been a useful exercise. You can learn so much, for example if a case involved long-standing domestic violence which had previously been ignored by the police and was well-known to neighbours.

    I’ve never been comfortable with reporters lifting quotes from Facebook and unwilling to do death knocks, I have always believe it is far more honest to knock on a door and speak to family and neighbours.

    But I know many reporters now believe this is unethical, so I must be wrong.

    Yes, these are unprecedented times. And the reporter should take care in how they approach neighbours. Knocking on a door and stepping we’ll back, for example.

    But I know these are old fashioned views. In the same way that I don’t believe that ripping off google street view is a substitute for a photographer. But these are old fashioned views.

    In the same way that I believe that deliberately conflating criticism of a police press office is not the same as attacking all police in these difficult times is wrong. Old fashioned.

    I know all this. And I’d like to say how very sorry I am.

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  • April 7, 2020 at 10:23 am
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    Very laudable and good of @Percy to offer an apology but in my view it’s wholly unnecessary.
    One of the many good things about HTFP is the opportunity to comment-exchange views and debate points about issues and topics which we have an opinion on but which we otherwise we may get chance to shade.
    Whether we agree with each other’s point of view is neither here nor there,everyone’s views are important and add to the debate.

    Personally I would like to point out that my comment about the dreaded Google Street view was made with my tongue firmly in my cheek and more as a reference to the lazy over use of this by too many publishers all of which have laid off countless photographers in the mistaken and self serving view they can get very useable photos from staff or the public.A short sighted decision which, in my view, has only added to the reduced quality of many regional titles.

    We will agree to disagree on some points but either way I hope everyone stays safe and well during these very extraordinary times

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  • April 7, 2020 at 11:26 am
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    I’d like to agree with Percy, your views may be old fashioned but that doesn’t mean they’re not right! I’d also like to agree with Richardson. There’s a lot of different views but they’re all interesting to read and give a fresh perspective. We are all usually civilised in our comments on here as well! Stay safe everybody!

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  • April 7, 2020 at 12:15 pm
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    @Disgruntled Toggy yes I quite agree there’s room for all views on here. And my old fashioned views on journalism are being swept away. Fortunately I am being proved wrong by the robust health of our newsrooms and the high regard that reporters are seen within their communities.

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  • April 7, 2020 at 12:34 pm
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    Percy, my views are very similar to yours. I think it a shame that many newsrooms don’t agree with us, if they did maybe standards would be better?

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  • April 9, 2020 at 2:48 pm
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    Percy Hoskins. In normal times I am with you 100 per cent. But people are dying all around us from the virus. Visiting a death spot suddenly becomes far less important, even dangerous, to me. But I respect your view despite strongly disagreeing with it. I think the cop was right.

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