Friday 15 May 2009
G20 Journalist grabbed by a police Snatch Squad
During the G20 protest in London on the 1st April I was talking to another photographer well away from the area where the police were attacking protesters. We were in the Kettled area a few metres back from a cordon of police in riot gear when without warning a scuffle broke out and, purely by reaction, I shot from over the heads of the people between me and action. The five frame slide show is the result. If anyone knows who the main guy is please let me know that he is OK.
Friday 8 May 2009
Potential for seizure of camera equipment under Section 43
The first report on this blog is not a happy one because I learned today that The Metropolitan Police are running a trial of stop and search powers under Section 43 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in four London Boroughs. Under Section 43 police officers can seize camera equipment, film and memory cards if an officer has reasonable suspicion that a person may be engaging in a terrorist related offence without the need for a court order to be issued. The National Policing Improvement Agency, who issue practice advise, assured the British Journal Of Photography that the use of Section 43 will not affect press photographers leaving the remainder of non-presscard carrying photographers to wonder if they are going to be singled out.
NPIA advice to police officers reads: "If officers reasonably suspect that photographs are being taken as part of hostile terrorist reconnaissance, a search under section 43 of the Terrorism Act 2000 or an arrest should be considered. Film and memory cards may be seized as part of the search, but officers do not have a legal power to delete images or destroy film. Although images may be viewed as part of a search, to preserve evidence when cameras or other devices are seized, officers should not normally attempt to examine them. Cameras and other devices should be left in the state they were found and forwarded to appropriately trained staff for forensic examination. The person being searched should never be asked or allowed to turn the device on or off because of the danger of evidence being lost or damaged."
There must be concern that this replacement for Section 44 will be used to prevent or delay the reporting of events such as the G20 protests. Where many of the controversial police actions were recorded by citizen journalists and members of the public some of who were not even part of the protest. Even the seizure of equipment which can be held for an indeterminate time could have serious implications for the livelihood of journalist.
The shift in police tactics comes after increasing controversy attracted by section 44 which saw 124,687 recorded stop and searches. Only 73 ended in arrests for terror offences with no figures on how many ended in convictions. Section 44 has been widely used for blanket searches and the legislation does not require the police to have reasonable suspicion that the person being stopped is a terrorist. Chris Grayling Shadow home secretary remarked that “This will only serve to reinforce the view that many anti-terror powers are being used for unrelated purposes. “ The Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner John Yates said in a report that Section 44 “reverses a fundamental principle in that no suspicion of wrongdoing is required” and will will have a negative impact on relations with minority communities. Isabella Sankey from Liberty said that "It is clear that the misuse of these powers against peaceful protesters and their disproportionate use on ethnic minorities has undermined trust and confidence."
The Section 43 trial starts this month in Southwark, Newham, Brent and Tower Hamlets.
Alan Gallery
Background to the use of these powers at protests last year.
http://http//www.marcvallee.co.uk/blog/2008/12/the-end-of-special-procedure-material/
NPIA advice to police officers reads: "If officers reasonably suspect that photographs are being taken as part of hostile terrorist reconnaissance, a search under section 43 of the Terrorism Act 2000 or an arrest should be considered. Film and memory cards may be seized as part of the search, but officers do not have a legal power to delete images or destroy film. Although images may be viewed as part of a search, to preserve evidence when cameras or other devices are seized, officers should not normally attempt to examine them. Cameras and other devices should be left in the state they were found and forwarded to appropriately trained staff for forensic examination. The person being searched should never be asked or allowed to turn the device on or off because of the danger of evidence being lost or damaged."
There must be concern that this replacement for Section 44 will be used to prevent or delay the reporting of events such as the G20 protests. Where many of the controversial police actions were recorded by citizen journalists and members of the public some of who were not even part of the protest. Even the seizure of equipment which can be held for an indeterminate time could have serious implications for the livelihood of journalist.
The shift in police tactics comes after increasing controversy attracted by section 44 which saw 124,687 recorded stop and searches. Only 73 ended in arrests for terror offences with no figures on how many ended in convictions. Section 44 has been widely used for blanket searches and the legislation does not require the police to have reasonable suspicion that the person being stopped is a terrorist. Chris Grayling Shadow home secretary remarked that “This will only serve to reinforce the view that many anti-terror powers are being used for unrelated purposes. “ The Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner John Yates said in a report that Section 44 “reverses a fundamental principle in that no suspicion of wrongdoing is required” and will will have a negative impact on relations with minority communities. Isabella Sankey from Liberty said that "It is clear that the misuse of these powers against peaceful protesters and their disproportionate use on ethnic minorities has undermined trust and confidence."
The Section 43 trial starts this month in Southwark, Newham, Brent and Tower Hamlets.
Alan Gallery
Background to the use of these powers at protests last year.
http://http//www.marcvallee.co.uk/blog/2008/12/the-end-of-special-procedure-material/
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