Police criticised over “fishing trip” after asking BBC for cuts footage
The Metrpolitan Police have come under fire from the National Union of Journalists after unofficially asking BBC journalists to hand over footage of last weeks cuts protest in London.
The march had become marred by violent anarchists lighting fires, trashing stores and defacing public property, prompting an intensive investigation to apprehend the culprits.
Responding to the request for footage NUJ president Jeremy Dear it as a “fishing trip”, writing in an email to members: “It is important we do not allow the police to use journalists as information gatherers for their purposes.
“Such a move places all journalists at greater risk when covering public order issues and stops sources coming forward. The NUJ stance has been confirmed in various cases before the UK and European courts."
If journalists refuse to comply the police can resort to the courts to obtain the material, though only if it is demonstrably in the public interest or vital to the investigation.