Photojournalist wins out-of-court settlement from Metropolitan Police in London

international | rights, freedoms and repression | press release

Sunday February 24, 2008 23:54

by Wagtog

Photojournalist Marc Vallée has accepted an apology and out-of-court
settlement from the Metropolitan Police today, further to issuing
proceedings against Sir Ian Blair, Commissioner of Police for the
Metropolis for "Battery" (assault) and breaches of the Human Rights Act,
relating to freedom of expression and assembly.

Mr. Vallée, a member of the National Union of Journalists, International
Federation of Journalists and the British Press Photographers’
Association, was taking photographs of the ‘Sack Parliament’
demonstration protest in Parliament Square on 9th October 2006.

Mr. Vallée received injuries further to action by Metropolitan Police
officers, which resulted in an ambulance attending to give urgent
attention and then treatment at St Thomas’ hospital.

Mr. Vallée has received a written apology and an out-of-court
settlement. His legal costs for pursuing the action will also be met by
the police.

Ms. Chez Cotton, Mr. Vallée’s solicitor, said,

‘This was an extremely unpleasant incident. Neither the Commissioner of
the Metropolitan Police or his officers has any legal power, moral
responsibility or political responsibility to prevent or restrict what
the media record. Mr. Vallée is a well-respected photojournalist,
lawfully present to photograph a political protest outside parliament,
yet he was brutally prevented from doing so by the police. It is right
that Mr. Vallée has received an apology, an out of court settlement and
that his legal costs will be met by the police.’

Mr. Chris Atkins, director of the BAFTA nominated hit feature film
documentary “Taking Liberties”, who witnessed the incident, said,

“Seeing photojournalist Marc Vallée assaulted by uniformed officers for
simply photographing protesters outside parliament was appalling, and a
sad reflection on the political policing that is now part of everyday
Britain. Marc’s case is a stark reminder that peaceful protest, and the
reporting of it, is very much under threat in this country."

http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPage.html?page=469761
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7000835.stm

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Comments (4 of 4)

I was Assaulted by garda taking photos @ protest

by Eamonn O'Coilea'in - Photographer

Thu Feb 28, 2008 04:56

HI Marc, I was also assaulted while taking photos of a peaceful protest in ERRIS, NW IRELAND. There was a peaceful protest at the site where $hell are trying to build a raw gas refinery close by to the regions drinking water.I was walking away that morning of the 10 Nov 2006 after taking pictures of all the 200 Irish garda who were blocking the protest, when a female garda grabed me and started kicking me in the legs, then she kicked in the groin, when I bent down in pain she then grabed my camera strap that was around my neck,trying to rip it off my neck. Two more male garda grabed me by my arms and hands and pushed me down a 8 ft ditch, the female garda also fell but I did nothing to cause her to fall. The edge she was pulling me to, just colasped and she went down and then the male garda forceful pushed me down the same ditch. I was hospitalized for 4 days and hurt my back, could not move my legs for 3 days, had to use crutches for almost a year and still need a cane just to walk because of the pain and suffering that I have to endure every day since it happened.Thankfully the garda took film that day also and it shows what really happened not what they are saying. You see they charged me with obstruction of a garda doing her job, the one who kicked me in the legs & groin,after I made a complaint to the complaints board.
4 garda told a totaly different story, even did not see each other yet they were holding me pulling at me and they didn't see each other. Well I'm taking this to the High Court, It's outragous what they did that day. The threw many people down deep drains & ditches without any thought to the safety of the person being thrown, (mostly people taking photos or filming). One man was actually thrown off a 12 foot bridge. So when I read your story It hit a note with me, Marc any addvice or help would be very aprecieated THANK YOU

precedented

by Chrissie

Thu Feb 28, 2008 10:02

Best wishes for your action Eamonn - violence from Gardai is common in Erris unforunately, & a symptom of the State's contempt for the people of Ireland, & visitors from abroad. Get all the advice that you can, & check out court cases of similar nature.

Grabbing cameras...

by MacE

Thu Feb 28, 2008 12:03

...happened as recently as two weeks ago in Erris. When a protester was being thrown about the place by Gardaí at Glengad, one female Garda made it her business to grab and divert the only camcorder present that wasn't belonging to the guards. There wasn't even a pretence of trying to do anything else except prevent the incident being recorded. Hats off to Garda Amanda Cunningham, winner of this month's "Move Along Folks, Nothing To See Here" Award.

Subver-poster-ing

Fri Mar 07, 2008 01:08

Responding to the London Metropolitan Police's new anti-photographer snitch campaign, wherein posters urge Londoners to turn in people who might be taking pictures of CCTV cameras, many people have taken a crack at redesigning the posters to point out the absurdity of them.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/illegalphotos/

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Photojournalist wins out-of-court settlement from Metropolitan Police in London

Comments (4 of 4)