Photojournos receive damages from Met Police
Seems there’s a couple of photojourno types that have just received a few grand apiece damages from the Met Police for having been prevented from photographing (and filming) a protest outside the Greek Embassy in London in 2008.
The story’s here.
Why does this interest me? Because that’s exactly the sort of event that I don my photojourno hat for as well.
Although occasionally I’ll play around with other stuff. Like the recent celebrations in Bedford over the Slovenia vs England football match. That I thought may have presented me with the opportunity of some newsworthy pics.
It didn’t, unfortunately.
But whilst I was about my recce of the High Street prior to the match ending, and when the police were all positioning themselves in readiness for whatever, I was approached by two WPCs who politely enquired what I was photographing. (Which happened to be some “before” shots of the High Street, as in a possible “before and after” type scenario. Shots that I never actually used because nothing much happened.)
Anyway, a quick explanation and flash of the Press Card and they left me to carry on.
No attempt at stopping me photographing whatsoever. Either then, or even later when I was near the Litten Tree and Harveys with loads of police milling around.
I think I feel vaguely miffed. Deprived in some sense. Deprived of the chance to complain about being prevented from doing what I was there for. I may just complain.
(I’ve written a bit more about this here as well.)
