Protestor and photographers: spot the difference
NUJ LEADER Jeremy Dear staged a one-person protest at New Scotland Yard in London to highlight police failures to allow press photographers to carry out their work without harassment. A dozen photographers snapped away, happy to support the mini-demonstration in their cause.
Photographer members of the union frequently protest at the way the police deal with them, particularly at public events and demonstrations. They say they are regularly obstructed by police officers who sometimes say they can’t tell photographers from demonstrators and treat them accordingly.
The purpose of Jeremy Dear’s stand was to help senior police officers spot the difference between a protestor and photographers covering the protest.
“It’s a shame that we have to hold a stunt like this to help the police spot the difference between a protestor and a press photographer,” he said. “It really isn’t that difficult.”
Last year guidelines were agreed between the NUJ and the Association of Chief Police Officers under which police agreed to allow photographers to work unmolested. But cases have continued to surface of officers taking action beyond their legal powers — usually obstructing photographers or seizing their cameras.
The union also has cases of journalists being arrested, or threatened with arrest, because they have refused to stop taking photos. Many NUJ members have reported being physically and mentally intimidated by the police and some cases have included actual physical violence.
“What’s really frustrating is that guidelines are already in place which should deal with the problems we experience,” Jeremy Dear said. “We’re not even campaigning for a change to the rules. All we want is for the policy that currently exists to be properly enforced.
“Although the one-man protest is light-hearted, this is a serious issue.”