Musings and Snippets from a recently retired JP. I served for 31 years, mostly in west London. I was Chairman of my Bench for some years, and a member of the National Bench Chairmen's Forum All cases are based on real ones, but anonymised and composited. All opinions are those of one or more individuals. JPs swear to enforce the law of the land, whether or not they approve of it. Nothing on here constitutes legal advice.
Wednesday, April 02, 2014
Lucky Break
I have nothing to say about the people involved in this but isn't it a coincidence that Press photographers happened to be on scene at exactly the right time and place?
Unless there was some skulduggery around this particular incident, this is not particularly concerning. Whole TV series are made like this, from what the police say on camera it is not an offence to photograph or record this type of incident. After all, there are plenty of "citizen journalists" who make it their business to record, quite ostentatiously, every move of the police at certain events at which trouble makers are expected. And it does no harm to show what the police have to put up with when trying to deal with certain sections of society whose attitude to law and authority is somewhat at odds with ours.
The information regarding a dawn raid on a citizen should be confidential to the police. There is a strong reason to suspect that In this case and many others, the presence of reporters is almost certainly due to the police sharing information.
I thought some of the 'cosiness' between the police and media was currently under discussion at the Old Bailey. I certainly agree that the police should be accountable, but these people are, so far, innocent until proven.
I don't mind the press being there- invited or not. What I do mind is the pictures being used before the persons have been charged- that presupposes they might have done something or there is evidence against them.
The cops should be careful, you would think they would have had enough of cock-ups in the recent past. They should realise dealing with the press is like dealing with a crocodile- you never know when it might bite you!!!!
It's not tipping off the press in they way some are implying. The police often invite journalists along on operations. The journalist won't know where he/she is going until they get there. Nothing illegal or unlawful about it.
There may be nothing illegal or unlawful about it ,but in this case, its an attempt by the police to harass, embarrass and distress people who have yet to be convicted.
Extrajudicial punishment is something the police in this country are far to fond of.
Posts are pre-moderated. Please bear with us if this takes a little time, but the number of bores and obsessives was getting out of hand, as were the fake comments advertising rubbish.
I do hope the police didn't go so far as to execute the warrant before the time that was written on the information that accompanied it.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like they were invited by the police, which makes a lot of sense - transparency in policing is very important.
ReplyDeleteAlmost makes you think that somebody had tipped them off.
ReplyDeleteSurely you are not suggesting that somebody tipped them off
ReplyDeleteUnless there was some skulduggery around this particular incident, this is not particularly concerning. Whole TV series are made like this, from what the police say on camera it is not an offence to photograph or record this type of incident. After all, there are plenty of "citizen journalists" who make it their business to record, quite ostentatiously, every move of the police at certain events at which trouble makers are expected. And it does no harm to show what the police have to put up with when trying to deal with certain sections of society whose attitude to law and authority is somewhat at odds with ours.
ReplyDeleteCan't say I agree with you there.
ReplyDeleteThe information regarding a dawn raid on a citizen should be confidential to the police. There is a strong reason to suspect that In this case and many others, the presence of reporters is almost certainly due to the police sharing information.
This is something I am uncomfortable with.
I thought some of the 'cosiness' between the police and media was currently under discussion at the Old Bailey. I certainly agree that the police should be accountable, but these people are, so far, innocent until proven.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind the press being there- invited or not. What I do mind is the pictures being used before the persons have been charged- that presupposes they might have done something or there is evidence against them.
ReplyDeleteThe cops should be careful, you would think they would have had enough of cock-ups in the recent past. They should realise dealing with the press is like dealing with a crocodile- you never know when it might bite you!!!!
It's not tipping off the press in they way some are implying. The police often invite journalists along on operations. The journalist won't know where he/she is going until they get there. Nothing illegal or unlawful about it.
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with it either.
DeleteThere may be nothing illegal or unlawful about it ,but in this case, its an attempt by the police to harass, embarrass and distress people who have yet to be convicted.
ReplyDeleteExtrajudicial punishment is something the police in this country are far to fond of.
Or, an attempt to be more transparent. One of those two things.
Delete