The risk of apologising

WHEN COMMANDER Bob Broadhurst of the Metropolitan police was being roughed up — purely verbally, you understand — at the NUJ photographers’ conference in May (reported on page 22), one member had a particularly telling point. Photographer Michael Preston said his arm had been broken by an officer with a truncheon to whom he was holding out his press card to show it. “Someone should stop police officers hitting journalists,” he said.

“Oh I’m sorry to hear that,” said the Commander. “I can only apologise on behalf of the force.”

“That’s all right,” Michael Preston shouted back. “I’m suing you.”

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