View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
June 9, 2008

‘Stop spying on journos’

By Press Gazette

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has been called on to put an end to police surveillance of reporters and photographers covering demonstrations.

NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear has written to Smith after receiving complaints from journalists, particularly photographers, who were facing what they claim amounted to harassment by members of the Metropolitan Police Forward Intellligence Team (FIT).

The FIT provides intelligence to police on individuals who might be involved in public order issues.

Dear said the NUJ had serious concerns about the FIT’s activities and has asked the Home Secretary to confirm if FIT was given instructions to photograph and catalogue journalists, for what purpose the information was being gathered and who had access to police databases.

‘A number of members have alleged that the police’s surveillance action amounts to virtual harassment and is a serious threat to their right to carry out their lawful employment,’said Dear.

‘Despite repeated requests there has been no legitimate reason given why police photographers should be cataloguing journalists.”

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network