MPA Civil Liberties Panel goes head to head with members of the media

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16 December 2009

The Metropolitan Police Authority Civil Liberties Panel met members of the media on Tuesday 15 December to discuss how policing tactics during protests and demonstrations impact on their work. The panel heard robust arguments concerning all aspects of how police and press could work towards the goal of greater co-operation and mutual benefit.

Victoria Borwick, Chair of the Civil Liberties panel, said:

“We were very interested to listen to the views of the media who came to our meeting today. Their collective experience has given the panel invaluable insight and perspective into how the police and press interact during protests. 

“They also made many useful and pertinent pointers to improving that relationship, and confirmed that greater accountability and transparency is crucial if public trust is to be maintained. 

“I will be meeting with the Commissioner in January to discuss emerging issues resulting from our scrutiny. Good communication is central to achieving a fair balance for all involved in attending demonstrations, and the panel will work toward positive and active measures to progress how protest is policed. We also hope to inform the national debate as police services plan for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012."

The panel are also inviting other members of the press to contact them if they have information they feel would be useful to the scrutiny. 

The media representatives attending the meeting discussed common experiences when dealing with police officers during violent demonstrations, such as G20. These included officers on the ground not acknowledging press cards to allow freedom of movement either in or out of the protest or ‘kettled’  area, and  difficulties in communicating ‘up the line’ with senior officers.

However, they stressed that not all demonstrations result in difficulties. Events such as Climate Camp were policed to the benefit of the public and press attending, and consequently the police themselves. Another media representative attended a briefing prior to a recent event and praised the officer in command, who fully informed his officers about press issues and the media’s rights to report during a demonstration, indicating that the system for dealing with the media is improving,  

Other issues raised by the media included:

• greater knowledge of the status of the national press card issued by the UK Press Card Authority, and the Met’s guidelines for officers when dealing with the media, which were written in conjunction with the NUJ, British Press Photographers' Association (BPPA) and National Association of Press Agencies (NAPA).
• greater openness with public and press
• less use of aggressive ‘robocop’ equipment
• media to be invited to event briefings and de-briefings 

The meeting was part of the scrutiny of the Met’s public order policing of violent disorder by the MPA Civil Liberties Panel.  Once the initial scrutiny is complete, the panel will continue both to monitor the situation and hear specific concerns from the public and human rights organisations.

Notes to Editors

Civil Liberties Panel

The MPA Civil Liberties Panel was introduced in the MPA's mission statement for London’s police, Met Forward, as a means of securing public confidence in policing tactics in the capital and ensuring the Met maintains public trust.

 ‘Our duty, as London’s police authority, is to ensure the Met restores and maintains public trust. In order to support this, we will establish a Civil Liberties Panel of Authority members that will begin its work with a formal civil liberties scrutiny of the Met’s public order policing of violent disorder. Once the initial scrutiny is complete, the panel will continue both to monitor the situation and hear specific concerns from the public and human rights organisations.’

Further information about the Civil Liberties Panel can be found at:

http://www.mpa.gov.uk/clp/

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