WHAT THE POLICE GUIDELINES SAY
Highlights from the guidelines agreed with the Association of Chief Police Officers, April 2007.
Members of the media have a duty to report from the scene of many of the incidents we have to deal with. We should actively help them carry out their responsibilities provided they do not interfere with ours.
Where it is necessary to put cordons in place, it is much better to provide the media with a good vantage point from which they can operate rather than to exclude them... [this] does not exclude them from operating from other areas to which the general public have access.
We have no legal power or moral responsibility to prevent or restrict what they record ... once images are recorded, we have no power to delete or confiscate them without a court order, even if we think they contain damaging or useful evidence.
Members of the media do not need a permit to photograph or film in public places.
The UK Press Card is recognised.