For Immediate Release
Event: Outside New Scotland Yard, 4 July 2010, 12 Noon.
Yesterday the European Court of Human Rights rejected the Governments appeal to it’s decision in January that ruled Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in breach of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
It follows a series of high profile incidents of police harassing photographers. Last Friday the Metropolitan Police accepted liability and paid compensation for a breach of Article 10 when they prevented photojournalist Marc Vallée and videographer Jason Parkinson from covering a demonstration outside the Greek Embassy in 2008.
On Saturday a 15 year old was stopped photographing army cadets parading in Romford by police claiming they did not need any powers to detain him, he is now taking legal advice about the incident.
And today the Home Office said it was reviewing it’s procedures for photographing people in public order situations as the Financial Times revealed that the police held criminal intelligence reports on people who had not been convicted of any crime. Including Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn and Fiyaz Mughal, interfaith and extremism adviser to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.
Campaigners from the I’m a Photographer, Not a Terrorist! group have called a flashmob outside New Scotland Yard this Sunday 4th July at 12 noon to celebrate the ECHR ruling and call on the Government to repeal s44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
One of the organisers of Sunday’s flashmob, Jess Hurd said:
For street photographers the battle against the misuse of the terrorism laws has been frustrating and at times absurd.
The abuse of these laws has united amateur and professional in defence of press freedom and civil liberties. We will not be intimidated by these unjust laws that pick on innocent citizens, and criminalise photography.
We urge all those who have been stopped since the original ruling in January to seek legal representation through their respective organisations.
Penny Quinton’s & Kevin Gillan’s victory against s44 in the European Court of Human Rights has been a long struggle for justice, achieved with the support of the NUJ and a committed legal team. It is a major success that should be celebrated across society.
Photographers are organising an ‘Im a Photographer Not a Terrorist’ Flashmob this Sunday, at noon, New Scotland Yard to celebrate our victory and determination not to be harassed by this, or any other law. Please join us.
Notes to Editors
I’m a Photographer, Not a Terrorist! Is a campaign run by photographers for anyone who values visual imagery. It was set up in 2009 in response to new terrorism laws preventing the photographing of police officers. In January it organised a mass photo gathering in Trafalgar Square that attracted over 2,000 photographers from across the country.
Journalists win payout after police admit failing to respect press freedom – The Guardian
Officers claim they don’t need law to stop photographer taking pictures – The Independent
Police use of protest photos will face review – The Financial Times
Judges reject government appeal over stop-and-search – BBC News
Contact
Jess Hurd – 07713 151765
hello@photographernotaterrorist.org
http://PhotographerNotaTerrorist.org
ENDS
Posted by A Photographer
Tags: ECHR, Flashmob, New Scotland Yard, Photographers Rights, Press Release, Section 44
Filed under: Press Releases