PHNAT has now received a response from the GLA on the incident recorded by filmmaker @indyrikki at Parliament Square on Budget Day.

A spokesperson for the GLA said: “The behaviour of one of the wardens shown in the video clip falls well below the standards required by the GLA. It was clearly not appropriate and the byelaws were not being interpreted correctly. We apologise for this lapse and action will be taken to address this.”

Information:

Based on the video clip there was no reason to ask the user of the camera to stop taking images or asking them to leave nor was there any reason to have ushered other members of the public, who were simply enjoying the Square, off of the open grassed area.

There are no restrictions on the use of cameras or camcorders for private or amateur use and a scheme is in place which authorises members of the professional media to go about their news gathering activities on Parliament Square.

In terms of non commercial and amateur photography/footage, the GLA has no legal power, or interest, in relation to where imagines are posted/published, that is totally a matter for the person taking the recording as they are responsible for what they do with their images.

The only time that the use of a camera is likely to be an issue is if an individual is causing harassment to a warden and preventing them carrying out their duties.

Posted by A Photographer

Tags: parliament square, Photography, photography rights, Press Freedom