British Police Told To Respect The Rights Of G20 Journalists

NUJ members regularly report being prevented from doing their jobs because of overbearing policing.

A significant proportion of these complaints arise out of attempts to cover demonstrations and protests.

Complaints include obstruction from gaining appropriate access, the seizure of equipment and inappropriate stop and searches under counter-terrorism legislation. The union has also received many reports of police going beyond their lawful powers by demanding that photographs are deleted.

The Association of Chief Police Officers, the NUJ and other newsgathering organisations have agreed a set of guidelines that detail how the relationship between the police and the media should work.

However, NUJ members report that in most cases rank-and-file officers know little if anything about the guidelines and that in many cases officers take action that is in direct contravention of the agreement.

* NUJ evidence with video of police intimidation

In its report the parliamentary committee said: “It is unacceptable that individual journalists are left with no option but to take court action against officers who unlawfully interfere with their work.

"Journalists have the right to carry out their lawful business and report the way in which demonstrations are handled by the police without state interference, unless such interference is necessary and proportionate, and journalists need to be confident that they can carry out their role.

"The public in turn have the right to impart and receive information: the media are the eyes and ears of the public, helping to ensure that the police are accountable to the people they serve. Effective training of front line police officers on the role of journalists in protests is vital.

"Police forces should consider how to ensure their officers follow the media guidelines which have been agreed between ACPO and the NUJ, and take steps to deal with officers who do not follow them.”

NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear welcomed the report. He said: “It is good to see the committee listened to our concerns. The onus is now on police leaders to take action to ensure our members can get on with their work.

“Officers need to get the right training and information – and they need to know that there are consequences if they fail to follow the agreed guidelines.”

By National Union Of Journalists