Photojournalist wins out-of-court settlement from Metropolitan Police in London

international | rights, freedoms and repression | press release

Sunday February 24, 2008 23:54

by Wagtog

Photojournalist Marc Vallée has accepted an apology and out-of-court
settlement from the Metropolitan Police today, further to issuing
proceedings against Sir Ian Blair, Commissioner of Police for the
Metropolis for "Battery" (assault) and breaches of the Human Rights Act,
relating to freedom of expression and assembly.

Mr. Vallée, a member of the National Union of Journalists, International
Federation of Journalists and the British Press Photographers’
Association, was taking photographs of the ‘Sack Parliament’
demonstration protest in Parliament Square on 9th October 2006.

Mr. Vallée received injuries further to action by Metropolitan Police
officers, which resulted in an ambulance attending to give urgent
attention and then treatment at St Thomas’ hospital.

Mr. Vallée has received a written apology and an out-of-court
settlement. His legal costs for pursuing the action will also be met by
the police.

Ms. Chez Cotton, Mr. Vallée’s solicitor, said,

‘This was an extremely unpleasant incident. Neither the Commissioner of
the Metropolitan Police or his officers has any legal power, moral
responsibility or political responsibility to prevent or restrict what
the media record. Mr. Vallée is a well-respected photojournalist,
lawfully present to photograph a political protest outside parliament,
yet he was brutally prevented from doing so by the police. It is right
that Mr. Vallée has received an apology, an out of court settlement and
that his legal costs will be met by the police.’

Mr. Chris Atkins, director of the BAFTA nominated hit feature film
documentary “Taking Liberties”, who witnessed the incident, said,

“Seeing photojournalist Marc Vallée assaulted by uniformed officers for
simply photographing protesters outside parliament was appalling, and a
sad reflection on the political policing that is now part of everyday
Britain. Marc’s case is a stark reminder that peaceful protest, and the
reporting of it, is very much under threat in this country."

http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPage.html?page=469761
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7000835.stm