Filed under: Journalism, NUJ | Tags: Counter-Terrorism, Counter-Terrorism Bill 2008, Damian Green, FIT, Forward Intelligence Team, Free Press, Home Office, Media Freedom, Media Restriction, Media Workers, National Union of Journalists, Police Surveillance, Press Freedom, Press Freedom Collateral Damage, Surveillance, Terrorism, Terrorism Act, War on Terror
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 24.07.08. New Scotland Yard the Headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, London, England on Thursday 24th July 2008. The Metropolitan Police have come under increasing pressure from National Union of Journalists due to numerous complaints about how the police deal with the media, particularly at public events and demonstrations. (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2008.
“Damian Green arrest worrying for democracy, says David Cameron” – The Guardian.
“Tory ‘astonished’ by leak arrest” – Channel 4 News.
“Terror law and photography.” – marcvallee.wordpress.com
Yesterday the shadow immigration minister Damian Green was arrested by anti-terror officers and held for nine hours and had his two homes and offices searched by the police as part of a Home Office leak inquiry.
The day before the new Counter-Terrorism Bill became an Act of Parliament. We will have to wait for news of the enforcement date(s) before the new Act becomes enforceable. As I reported here parts of the new Act could inpact on photography and journalism. If a top Tory politician can be arrested by terror cops what next?
Much more on this next next week.
Filed under: Political Protest Project | Tags: Camp for Climate Action, Climate, Climate Change, Coal, Coal-fired, E.ON, Eco, Environment, Environmental, Global Warming, Kingsnorth Power Station, Power Station
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 28.11.08. Environmental activists protest outside the London head office of E.ON the power company in Pall Mall, London, England on Friday 28th November 2008. The protest was the start of two days of action against plans for a new coal-fired power station in Kingsnorth, Kent by E.ON. (Photos by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2008.
“Protest group targets energy firm” – BBC News.
Clients : Click on the image above to view a slideshow from the set and click on the link below for rights managed editorial licensing. High resolution images are available on request.
Images: “E.ON – Greenwash Guerillas Protest – 28.11.08″
Archive Link : www.archive.marcvallee.co.uk
Filed under: Journalism, NUJ | Tags: ACPO, Acting Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison, Association of Chief Police Officers, Chris Allison, Constable Neil Hickey, Crime and Security, Deputy Chief Constable Sue Sim, Evan Harris, Evan Harris MP, FIT, Forward Intelligence Team, Free Press, Human Rights, Jeremy Dear, Joint Committee on Human Rights, Metropolitan Police, Minister of State for Policing, National Union of Journalists, Neil Hickey, Photographers, Police, Police Federation, Police Surveillance, Police Violence, Press Freedom, Sue Sim, Vernon Coaker MP
“Human rights stop police confronting danger” – telegraph.co.uk
“Arms protest policing criticised” – BBC News.
On Tuesday I attended the Joint Committee on Human Rights at House of Commons. Acting Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison MBE from the Metropolitan Police, Deputy Chief Constable Sue Sim from the Association of Chief Police Officers and Constable Neil Hickey from the Police Federation of England and Wales gave oral evidence to the committee on policing and protest.
This follows on from the evidence Jeremy Dear the General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) gave to the committee on police surveillance and harassment of journalists and photographers last month.
It was very interesting to hear the police give evidence. From attacking Mark Thomas and his Mass Lone Protests in Parliament Square to the Human Rights Act and asking for a new law of “enforced notice” of all protests across United Kingdom was chilling. The police did not make it clear how this “enforced notice” of protest would work but some kind of UK wide SOCPA law seemed to be on the police agenda. The police tried very hard to give the impression that all was OK and just let us get on with doing our job.
Evan Harris MP asked Acting Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison from the Metropolitan Police a number of questions on police surveillance and harassment of journalists and photographers.
Audio: Policing and Protest (25.11.08).
You can hear this exchange by clicking on the above link. It’s one hour and 23 minutes in. Acting Assistant Commissioner Allison made it very clear that the Metropolitan Police do not have any right to stop photographers from taking a photograph of the police (or anyone else) in a public place and that the police are accountable.
Fine words indeed and this is all well and good but as anyone who works on the front line covering protests will know this is not always the case. After all it was under Chris Alison watch that this happen to me. So what has fundamental changed?
Vernon Coaker MP, Minister of State for Policing, Crime and Security will give evidence to the committee in December. I will report back with more then.
Filed under: Journalism, NUJ | Tags: Court Appeal, G8, G8 Summit, Geneva, Geneva Police, Guy Smallman, National Union of Journalists, NUJ, Photojournalist, Stun Grenade, Swiss
Today the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has released a video and photographs that show British photojournalist Guy Smallman being blown up by a stun grenade thrown by a Geneva police officer in 2003.
Only last month Guy wrote a very personal account of a visit to a accident and emergency room in Kabul. Afghanistan here on this blog (same leg).
The images the NUJ has released today will form part of an appeal by Guy Smallman against a Swiss court ruling that police were not to blame for the injuries he suffered while covering protests outside a G8 summit in June 2003. The appeal is being formally lodged with the Swiss authorities this week.
To read more click here.
Images before (above) and after (below) an operation of injuries sustained by photojournalist Guy Smallman after he was hit by a stun grenade whilst covering a protest outside a G8 summit in Geneva in June 2003. Published here by kind permission of the NUJ.
Filed under: Journalism, NUJ | Tags: Counter-Terrorism, FIT, Forward Intelligence Team, Free Press, Home Office, Media Freedom, Media Restriction, Media Workers, National Policing Improvement Agency, National Union of Journalists, Police Surveillance, Press Freedom, Press Freedom Collateral Damage, Surveillance, Terrorism, Terrorism Act, War on Terror
KINGSNORTH, KENT, UNITED KINGDOM – 05.8.08. Police stop and search working UK Press Card carrying photographers and journalistsa outside the main gates of the Camp for Climate Action Kingsnorth Kent, England on Tuesday 5th August 2008. 2,000 (Photo Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2008.
“What rights now for photographers under the Terrorism Act 2000?” – journalism.co.uk
“The draft Terrorism Act 2000 guidance: what’s happening?” – blogs.journalism.co.uk
As reported here a few weeks ago today was the day that the Home Office was going to publish new operational guidance to the police on the use of stop and search powers under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 of those taking photographs in public places.
I emailed the press office at the National Policing Improvement Agency today to get a copy of the revised advice and this is what I got back:
“The revised Practice Advice for police officers in the use of stop and search to combat terrorism is nearing completion. However, it will not be published today as anticipated. A date for publication will be set in the near future.”
Why the delay?
“Revised guidance for police officers in the use of stop and search to combat terrorism is nearing completion. However, we were not able to publish on 20 Nov as anticipated. A date for publication will be set in the near future.
“I want to reassure your readers that the Terrorism Act 2000 does allow people to take photographs or digital images in public places, and the Practice Advice will re-iterate this.”
So the next time you are stopped by the police or stopped and searched under the Terrorism Act 2000 when taking a photograph just remember the National Policing Improvement Agency has said the Act “does allow people to take photographs or digital images in public places, and the Practice Advice will re-iterate this.“
Interesting wording “does allow” more on this next week in a comment piece I’m writing for an online journalism magazine.
Filed under: Journalism, NUJ | Tags: Free Press, Hicham Yezza, Jason N. Parkinson, Lousie Christian, Marc Vallée, Media, Media Workers, Media Workers Against the War, Nick Davies, Peter Oborne, Photojournalism, Police Surveillance, Press Freedom, Press Freedom Collateral Damage, Under Siege, Under Siege - Islam War and the Media, War, War on Terror
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 15.11.08. Photojournalist Marc Vallée speaking at a workshop on “Journalists and the “terror” laws” at a conference at the London School of Economics, London, England on Saturday 15th November 2008. The half-day conference called “Under Siege – Islam, War And The Media” was hosted by Media Workers Against the War which is a group of concerned journalists and media workers who campaign against the effects of the “war on terror” on the British media and in turn on British politics. Published here by kind permission of Rikki/london.indymedia.org.uk 2008.
Here is a set of audio files from the “Journalists and the “terror” laws” workshop I spoke at last weekend at the London School of Economics here in London. The workshop was part of a half-day conference called “Under Siege – Islam, War And The Media” which was hosted by Media Workers Against the War. Click on the links below to hear the speakers and the discussion and to view the film that was screened in the workshop. Your feedback would be most welcome.
Audio: Marc Vallée (MP3 – 15.9 MB File).
Film: Screening of Jason N.Parkinson’s film Press Freedom: Collateral Damage.
Audio: Lousie Christian, Hicham Yezza and discussion. (MP3 – 53.8 MB File).
Audio: Lousie Christian, Hicham Yezza, discussion and Marc Vallée. (MP3 – 6.95 MB File).
Note: The audio files are published here by kind permission of Rikki/london.indymedia.org.uk . (c) Rikki/london.indymedia.org.uk, 2008.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 15.11.08. Campaigning lawyer Louise Christian from Christian Khan, Hicham Yezza the editor of Ceasefire Magazine who was arrested for downloading an al-Qaeda document from a US government website and photojournalist Marc Vallée speak at a “Journalists and the “terror” law” session. Media Workers Against War Conference. LSE, London. Published here by kind permission of Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk. (c) Jess Hurd, 2008.
Filed under: Journalism, NUJ | Tags: Free Press, Hicham Yezza, Jason N. Parkinson, Lousie Christian, Marc Vallée, Media, Media Workers, Media Workers Against the War, Nick Davies, Peter Oborne, Photojournalism, Police Surveillance, Press Freedom, Press Freedom Collateral Damage, Under Siege, Under Siege - Islam War and the Media, War, War on Terror
The agenda (PDF) for Under Siege – Islam, War And The Media conference has been updated. The workshop that I’m speaking at is now called “Journalists and the “terror” laws” and two extra speakers have been added to the line up. The campaigning lawyer Lousie Christian from Christian Khan and Hicham Yezza the editor of Ceasefire Magazine who was arrested for downloading an al-Qaeda document from a US government website have both been added to the line up.
Workshop: “Journalists and the “terror” laws”:
“Louise Christian (campaigning lawyer), Marc Vallée (photojournalist), Hicham Yezza (editor, Ceasefire magazine) -Chair: Jenny Lennox (NUJ organiser)”
Jason N.Parkinson and I will still be showing Press Freedom: Collateral Damage as part of the workshop and we will also do a Q&A after the film.
Guy Smallman will now be showing his images from Afghanistan in the “Afghanistan: the good war?” workshop.
The conference is being held a the London School of Economics (Map) and starts at 2pm and you can buy your ticket here. The event is open to all and not just media workers.
Filed under: Journalism, NUJ | Tags: Free Press, Guy Smallman, Jason N. Parkinson, Marc Vallée, Media, Media Workers, Media Workers Against the War, Nick Davies, Peter Oborne, Photojournalism, Police Surveillance, Press Freedom, Press Freedom Collateral Damage, Under Siege, Under Siege - Islam War and the Media, War, War on Terror
I’m going to be one of the speakers at Under Siege – Islam, War And The Media a half-day conference hosted by Media Workers Against the War this weekend.
The conference is being held a the London School of Economics (Map) and starts at 2pm and you can buy your ticket here. Speakers include Peter Oborne and Nick Davies and many more. The event is open to all and not just media workers.
The workshop I will be speaking at is called Photojournalism and the “war on terror“ . Jason N.Parkinson and I will be showing Press Freedom: Collateral Damage and then we will do a Q&A afterwards. Also in this workshop Guy Smallman who has just returned from Afghanistan will be showing a set of images from that trip.
Filed under: Political Protest Project | Tags: Bisexual, Discrimination, gay, Gender, Gender Identity, Gender-queer, Identity, Intersex, Julie Bindel, Lesbian, LGBT, LGBT Community, Queer, Sex Worker, Stonewall, Stonewall Awards, Transgender, Transgender Rights, Transphobia, Transsexual
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 06.11.08. Transgender rights campaigns and supporters protest outside the Stonewall Awards at the Victoria and Albert Museum on Thursday 6th November 2008 London, England. Campaigners protested against the nomination of journalist Julie Bindel for an award from Stonewall, the lesbian, gay and bisexual rights organisation. Transgender rights campaigns alleged Julie Bindel’s views on transgender issues were upsetting and offensive to the transgender, transsexual, gender-queer and intersex young community who already face great hardship and discrimination due to their gender identity. (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2008.
“Transgender Groups to Protest at High Profile London Awards Ceremony Against Stonewall “Bigotry” – ukgaynews.org.uk
“Trans protest at Stonewall Awards faces feminist counter-demo” – pinknews.co.uk
“Celebs split over trans protest at Stonewall Awards” – pinknews.co.uk
Clients : Click on the images above and below to view a slideshow from the set and click on the link below for rights managed editorial licensing. High resolution images are available on request.
Images: “Transgender Rights Protest – 06.11.08″
Archive Link : www.archive.marcvallee.co.uk
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 06.11.08. A protester wearing a red t-shirt with the words “This is what a sex worker looks like” on it joins transgender rights campaigners outside the Stonewall Awards at the Victoria and Albert Museum on Thursday 6th November 2008 London, England. Campaigners protested against the nomination of journalist Julie Bindel for an award from Stonewall, the lesbian, gay and bisexual rights organisation. Transgender rights campaigns alleged Julie Bindel’s views on transgender issues were upsetting and offensive to the transgender, transsexual, gender-queer and intersex young community who already face great hardship and discrimination due to their gender identity. (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2008.
Filed under: Journalism, NUJ | Tags: Counter-Terrorism, FIT, Forward Intelligence Team, Free Press, Home Office, Media Freedom, Media Restriction, Media Workers, National Union of Journalists, Police Surveillance, Press Freedom, Press Freedom Collateral Damage, Surveillance, Terrorism, Terrorism Act, War on Terror
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 05.04.08. A police photographer from the Metropolitan Police’s Forward Intelligence Team documents the contents of a sketchbook as police conduct a stop and search on a man and women in Trafalgar Square, London, England on Saturday 5th April 2008. Pro-Tibet demonstrators arrive in London ahead of protests due to take place along the route of the Olympic Torch on Sunday 6th April 2008. (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2008.
“Review of the guidance on the use of section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.” – security.homeoffice.gov.uk
“Terrorism: Stop and Search” – publications.parliament.uk
“Police will use new device to take fingerprints in street” – The Guardian.
“Home Office guides plods on photography” – theregister.co.uk
“Counter-Terrorism Bill clause 83 reminder – chilling effect on reporting or speculation about military or intelligence service or police personnel ?” – spyblog.org.uk
Back in April of this year I came across a police stop and search in Trafalgar Square. This was the day before the Olympic Torch was due to arrive in London. I took a few frames of what was going on and then I was stopped by a police officer who made it very clear he knew who I was but he still wanted to take a look at my UK Press Card. He said, “I want your card number for my records”, so he writes down my press card number in his notebook and I take a picture. This was not a new experience for me. But is working on Britain’s streets just about to get harder?
On Thursday 20th November the Home Office will publish new operational guidance to the police on the use of stop and search powers under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 of those taking photographs in public places.
The draft guidance says,
“There is no power under the Terrorism Act 2000 to prohibit people from taking photographs or digital images in an area where an authority under section 44 is in place.
“If officers reasonably suspect that photographs are being taken as part of hostile terrorist reconnaissance then they should act appropriately, by searching the person under Section 43 of the Terrorism Act or making an arrest. Cameras, film and memory cards may be seized as evidence but there is no power for images to be deleted or film to be destroyed by officers.”
If section 43 with its powers to seize “cameras, film and memory cards” is misused in the same way that section 44 has been misused by the police then just think of the chilling effect this will have on photography in a public place.
And then we have Clause 83 Clause 75 of the new Counter-Terrorism Bill 2008.
“(1) A person commits an offence who–
“(a) elicits or attempts to elicit information about an individual who is or has been–
“(i) a member of Her Majesty’s forces,
(ii) a member of any of the intelligence services, or
(iii) a constable,”
A “Constable” is the legal term for all police officers. “Elicits or attempts to elicit information” does that include taking a photograph and publishing it?
“(b) publishes or communicates any such information.”
Yep. And you can get 10 years for this one! And I all most forgot, every police force in Britain is going to be equipped with mobile fingerprint scanners which will allow the police to carry out identity checks on people on the street. I think I’m going to need to get myself a desk job!
(c) Marc Vallée, 2008.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 05.04.08. Photojournalist Marc Vallée stopped and asked to show his UK Press Card to a police officer as police conduct a stop and search on a man and women in Trafalgar Square, London, England on Saturday 5th April 2008. Pro-Tibet demonstrators arrive in London ahead of protests due to take place along the route of the Olympic Torch on Sunday 6th April 2008. (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2008.
