Kent Police apology for press photographer

Kent Police have apologised to a press photographer who was stopped and searched four times while covering last year’s climate camp in the county, the NUJ said today.
An assistant chief constable has written to NUJ member Jess Hurd acknowledging that police failed to recognise her press card as they should have done.
The photographer had complained to the police with the support of the NUJ and Bindmans solicitors. She said in a statement that she had been searched once on 5 August 2008 and three times on 8 August and on 9 August a policeman took her press card because it didn’t “look authentic”.
Now, in a letter Allyn Thomas, Assistant Chief Constable of Kent Police, has said to Jess Hurd: “It is clear that officers on the ground did not understand the accreditation arrangements for journalists and indeed did not generally recognise the press card that you (and others) presented.
"The failing appears to lie with the planning and management of the operation. This is my responsibility for which I am sorry.”
Thomas added: “This issue of more effective liaison with journalists has been clearly identified through the de-briefing process as an area for development.”
Jess was one of six journalists filmed as they filed their work by a police surveillance team looking through the window of a McDonalds restaurant several miles from the climate camp. The police video was obtained by The Guardian.
Jeremy Dear, NUJ general secretary, said: “The police and the home office have made repeated promises that officers will be properly trained to deal with photographers at demonstrations but the problems keep on happening.
“Let’s hope this welcome apology marks the start of more equitable treatment of journalists by police at protests and demonstrations.”