[Imc-photos] request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland)
Act 2002 From Tayside Police
Alan Lodge
tash at gn.apc.org
Tue Jun 14 06:46:41 PDT 2005
Request:: Alan Lodge
Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
I've made a request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
>From Tayside Police
I've made this request in general terms, as a part of a larger project I'm
currently engaged in. However, with the G8 coming up, it is of obvious
interest to photographers expecting to cover such events.
"If officers receive training, or written orders on dealing with properly
accredited photographers at any scene or situation within Tayside Police."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Dear Mr Lodge,
I refer to your request for information and attach my reply. I have checked
my records which indicate that your request was dated 13 May and not
received by Tayside Police until 19 May 2005. I therefore calculate that the
20 working day period does not expire until 16 June 2005.
I trust that the attached reply addressed the issues you raised. If you
require further assistance or clarification I can be contacted as shown
below.
Regards
Inspector Donald Thomson
Force Information Coordinator
01382 596130
email donald.thomson at tayside.pnn.police.uk
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Dear Mr Lodge
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (SCOTLAND) ACT 2002
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION REGARDING MEDIA ACCESS
I refer to your request for information dated 13 May 2005, which was
received on 23 May 2005 and is being dealt with in terms of the above Act. I
am pleased to inform you that I am now in a position to provide you with the
information you requested. For the avoidance of doubt this reply is in
relation to the following request for information:
"I would like therefore to enquire if officers receive training, or written
orders on dealing with properly accredited photographers at any scene or
situation within Tayside Police".
In researching this question I have established both in force and with the
Scottish Police College the nature of training provided to police officers
in relation to liaision with the media at incidents. The principal thrust of
training in relation to the management of incidents of all types is the
necessity to secure the locus. The preservation of the locus is paramount
for a number of reasons including security, preservation of evidence,
control of movement, health and safety issues and to facilitate any
necessary risk assessments to take place.
In the preamble to your request you mention "maintaining perimeters". The
establishment of one or more cordons in and around the area of an incident
is standard procedure. All probationary officers receive training in the
establishment of a cordon when necessary. Officers undertaking major
incident courses receive further training on the establishment and
management of cordons. The training is not prescriptive in relation to
access as this rightly has to be decided on a case by case basis.
The management of a locus falls to the Senior Investigating Officer. In any
given scenario the Senior Investigating Officer will have to consider many
factors when setting the management regime one aspect of which is likely to
be cordon control. In any situation it is likely that access to a locus will
be restricted, both to police staff and members of the public. Tayside
Police take seriously the needs of the media and it is our intention at any
incident to cooperate and communicate with the media although the nature and
extent of this assistance will be dictated by the nature of the incident and
the requirements of the ongoing investigation.
In most instances media liaison will be coordinated by our media office at
Force Headquarters. In major incidents a media liaison point will be
established and media liaison officers will be in attendance. At the early
stages of an incident control of the locus is vital. It is recognised that
this may conflict with the desire of journalists or photographers to file
copy timeously. Officers on cordon duty should be briefed how to deal with
media enquiries and where to direct members of the media for assistance.
While Tayside Police encourages officers to speak to the media and assist
with enquiries where appropriate to do so officers on cordon duty are
unlikely to be able to assist with specific enquiries or to facilitate
access. Officers are trained to deal politely with persons seeking access to
a cordon but will comply with the instructions of the Senior Investigating
Officer in respect of maintaining the security of a cordon.
In the case of a pre-planned event media liaison is always considered and
where appropriate an accreditation process will be established. In less high
profile pre-planned events media access is facilitated with designated areas
established both for photographic opportunities and interviews.
If you require further information regarding the training provided by the
Scottish Police College you may wish to contact the college FoI Officer,
Marion Wilkins, who I have consulted during the processing of your request.
The college address is:
Scottish Police College, Tulliallan Castle, Kincardine, Fife, FK10 4BE
or
www.tulliallan.police.uk
I trust the above information will be useful to you. If you require any
further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me. However if you
are not satisfied with the way in which your request has been dealt with,
you are entitled, in the first instance, to request a review of the decision
made by the Force. Should you wish to request such review, please write to
me within 40 days of receiving this letter. I will arrange for a senior
officer, who has not been involved in my decision making process, to conduct
a review as required by the Act. If, after having been informed of the
review panel's decision, you are still not satisfied, you are then entitled
to apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner for a decision. The
contact details for Mr. Dunion, the Scottish Information Commissioner, are
Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner, Kinburn Castle, Doubledykes
Road, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DS, telephone 01334 464 610.
Yours sincerely
Inspector Donald Thomson - Force Information Co-ordinator
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Original Request:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Force Information Co-ordinator
Tayside Police Headquarters
PO Box 59
West Bell Street
Dundee
DD1 9JU
Friday, 13 May 2005
Sir
I write to ask you for information, that I now request under the Freedom of
Information (Scotland) Act 2002
I am a freelance photographer. I supply a number of organisations and
sometimes shoot for stock for my own interests. I have attended to incidents
of various sorts in the area.
During the course of my 'news based' work, I regularly come across police
officers maintaining perimeters. Frequently, they then, in spite of being
shown 'press credentials', deny access. Now I understand that this would
obviously be the case, when preserving a crime scene, or, under some
dangerous circumstances where health and safety issues would pertain.
However, it is my experience that officers do not seem to be acting in a
consistent way when faced with such requests.
Further, the very act of questioning the officers decision can result in an
aggressive stance.
I would therefore like to enquire if officers receive training, or written
orders on dealing with properly accredited photographers at any scene or
situation within Tayside Police.
I look forward to your reply, and thank you for any assistance in this
matter.
Regards
Alan Lodge
Member of the National Union of Journalists [No: 014345]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
So, there you have it.
Tash
____________________________________________
ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email: tash at gn.apc.org
Web: http://tash.gn.apc.org
Member of the National Union of Journalists [No: 014345]
____________________________________________
"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
___________________________________________
OS Grid Ref: SK 575414 - Lat/Lon: 52:58:03N, 1:08:38W
<ends>
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