Jess Hurd

Photographer
BJP

I’m A Photographer …Not a Terrorist


Seeing as the police don’t seem to recognise the legitimacy of press card these days. We thought we would make our status clear with our own badge..


We have seen artists arrested under the terrorism legislation.
A local historian stopped and searched for photographing a plaque on a bench.

I was also detained by police in the London Docklands before Christmas whilst covering a traveller wedding and accused of doing ‘hostile reconnaissance’. Read the Guardian and other related articles here


Enough is Enough.

Monday 16th February 2009 will see the enforcement of Section 76 of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008. As the British Journal of Photography (BJP) wrote last month,

“The relationship between photographers and police could worsen next month when new laws are introduced that allow for the arrest – and imprisonment – of anyone who takes pictures of officers ‘likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism’.”

Read the full BJP article here. 

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has teamed up with Mark Thomas (writer, broadcaster, comic and political activist), Chris Atkins (the BAFTA nominated director and writer of the feature film documentary Taking Liberties), and many more for a “media event” outside New Scotland Yard on Monday 16 February 2009. The plan is simple, turn up with your camera and exercise your democratic right to take a photograph in a public place.


More info about the background to this “media event” visit the NUJ here

Please note: This is NOT a Protest!
Wednesday, February 4th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
badge, BJP, Counter-Terrorism Act 2008, journalist, Mark Thomas, New Scotland Yard, Photographer, Prevention of Terrorism Act, Section 76, terrorism, terrorist
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