Police the Police

"You look like a terrorist," he said.

This was the statement made in response to a question I posed to a policeman last summer. Immediately following last Summer's attacks on the capital, the Metropolitan Police imposed a militaristic-style suppression of movement within London. I vividly remember the attacks on the city (I was working in an office on Liverpool Street) and some images and sounds will stay with me for the rest of my life. However, I will also remember being stopped six times in two weeks, searched six times in two weeks, swabbed, pushed around and finally told that "you look like a terrorist".

So how does this abuse of power relate to the NUJ and this conference?

Motion 55 "Police confiscation of material" raises issues relating to the relationship between the press and the police.

Firstly, it puts journalists in a weaker position to respond to dramatic events. Secondly, it puts journalists at personal risk if they refuse. And finally it undermines the ability to expose abuses of power by this organisation.

I fully endorse the speaker's suggestion to delete all unpublished material to pre-emptively remove it from the potential of being seized. Yet I would like to suggest, if not implore journalists to publish as much material on protests and activism to counterpoise the action of the police force.

After hearing that particular comment from a police officer I turned and said to him: "You look like a paedophile". Needless to say he did not appreciate my racial profiling, but a system that does not respect its own laws does not deserve our respect or support.

[If anybody wants to listen to the track from last night . . .http://www.ourmedia.org/node/193286]