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'Green light' for police surveillance
of journalists and photographers
holdthefrontpage
Friday, July 4, 2008
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.
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"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.
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