Police apologise for obstructing photographers at G20 protest

Press photographers forced away from clashes outside the Bank of England during G20 protest by police citing Public Order Act

Mark Sweney
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 8 April 2009 17.13 BST

G20 protesters clash with police in front of the Bank of England, April 2009

Clashes between police and protesters during last week's G20 summit. Photograph: Tim Ireland/PA

The Metropolitan police today apologised to press photographers it prevented from covering clashes between protesters and riot officers during last week's G20 summit in London.

A number of press photographers complained that police forced them away from covering clashes with demonstrators citing section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986. Section 14 is designed to prevent "serious public disorder, serious criminal damage or serious disruption to the life of the community" .

Journalists claim that the police used the act to force them to leave key areas of the G20 protests or face arrest.

The police may use the act to impose restrictions on demonstrations including location, duration and number of protestors to keep public order, however it is not designed to prevent reporters covering news events.

A spokeswoman from the Met today apologised to journalists who may have been caught up in the police action against protesters.

"Section 14 was applied outside the Bank of England to disperse protesters," she said. "There may have been some photographers caught up in that. If so we apologise. We respect the right of photographers to cover current events."

The spokeswoman denies reports that the Met have admitted that it incorrectly applied section 14 measures during the G20 clashes.

There have also been claims that photographers caught up with the protesters were forced to have their pictures taken before police allowed them to leave the area.

A spokeswoman for the Met said that it was part of police practice to take photos to gather evidence for future use against anyone who may have committed a crime. Journalists were not specifically targeted, she said.

"It [taking photos] helps to eliminate them [journalists] from people who were committing offences," she said. "It can be difficult sometimes to pinpoint who has committed an offence."

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