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Curbs on police access to films demanded

01 January 1991

Curbs on police access to films demanded
artdoc June=1991

The International Press Institute has called for the law
allowing police access to news photographs and TV film to be
changed. The Police and Criminal Evidence Act allows judges
to order journalists' materials to be handed over to the police
when it is likely to be of `substantial value' to them. But
an PI report says that the courts are allowing police
applications where it appears that the materials `might help'
the police, and these are then used to arrest, charge and
prosecute people. This results in journalists being seen as
`coppers' narks' and coming under threat themselves. The
report argues that the law should require the police to satisfy
a judge that the material is essential, is unobtainable from
other sources, that other sources such as eye-witnesses have
been thoroughly explored first, that they are investigating
serious offences with a view to prosecution, and that the
material to be handed over is the minimum required for the
purpose. (Independent 17.9.90)
The demands were echoed in a speech by John Birt, deputy
director general of the BBC, in a speech to the annual meeting
of the Association of Chief Police Officers. At the same
conference, Max Hastings, editor of the Daily Telegraph, said
the problem should be avoided by the police arranging for their
own photographers to be at major public order events. But he
also complained that, on at least two occasions, police
photographers had identified themselves as members of the
media. (Times 4.10.90)

IRR Police-Media Bulletin No 64. Institute of Race Relations,
2-6 Leeke Street, London WC1X 9HS