Photographers have been harassed and beaten up by the Metropolitan Police and this has continued with a poster campaign by the Met to encourage people to grass up anyone photographing in a public space. Photographers have subvertised back and are organising a one man protest, to be photographed.
Poster here produced by the Met:
http://www.epuk.org/blogs/825/thousands-of-people-produ...y-day
Thousands of Coppers stop people everyday- What if one of them seems odd?
http://www.epuk.org/files/800w_epukposter.jpg
another here- We want You Scared Forever
http://www.horncologne.com/content/london_metrolpolitan...remix
A recent victory by a photographer over Police battery.
http://www.nuj.org.uk/innerPagenuj.html?docid=719
Photo call – Press Freedom Protest! New Scotland Yard!
Restrictions on the right to protest have gone hand in hand with attacks
on those of us who cover protests. In recent months there have been
attacks on photographers, people have had equipment seized and access
has been denied. Police officers routinely stand in front of
photographers, hold a hand in front of lenses, preventing decent shots
being taken by deadline.
Our lawful right to do our job is increasingly under threat.
To highlight such attacks on the freedom of the media, NUJ General
Secretary Jeremy Dear will stage a lone protest outside New Scotland Yard:
Date: Friday 28th March 2008.
Time: 2-3pm.
Place: New Scotland Yard, London, S1.
Whilst the law puts restrictions on how many protesters and the nature
of any protest, photographers have a right to cover protests - lawful or
otherwise.
Yet that right is all too often being denied.
Show your support for the right to photograph protests free from threats
or intimidation.