Informed 07


News Update


Journalists under fire


Police is arbitrarily obstructive of the crucial work carried out by journalists. It shows a flagrant disregard of their ability to report on events which the wider public plainly benefit from being informed of.”


Protest at Napier Barracks asylum centre


When you are a journalist you expect to get the story, not be it, but that’s just what happened to members Andy Aitchison and Nadine White (pictured) who both received full support from the union. Andy, a freelance photographer, was sent a tip-off about a protest in support of asylum seekers kept at Napier Barracks in Folkestone, and Nadine, a reporter for HuffPost, asked equalities minister Kemi Badenoch why she had not taken part in a campaign video with other black politicians to counter vaccine hesitation in the black community. Tey were just doing their jobs. Tis led to a knock on the door of


Andy’s home by the Kent police who told him they were arresting him on suspicion of criminal damage. He then spent seven hours in a cell and had his mobile phone and camera memory card confiscated, despite showing officers his press card. Nadine’s perfectly legitimate question


led to the minister making their email correspondence public on Twiter and calling the journalist “creepy and


bizarre”. Tis tweet unleased vile and racist atacks on Nadine – she was abused on social media platforms, sent threatening emails and phone messages and was forced to close her Twiter account. In both cases, the union and other supporters rushed to their defence. Working with Bindmans law firm, the union sent a leter to the police saying Andy had clearly acted as a journalist and under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act his material was protected and the police did not have the power to seize it. On Friday 5 February, the police said they would not be pursuing his case and his phone and camera card were returned. Te NUJ called for an inquiry into Kent police’s action and an apology for Andy. To add insult to injury the police fined


Andy the following week for breaking Covid-19 regulations; this was later rescinded. Bindmans partner Kate Goold said: “Tis repeated conduct by Kent


During Home Office questions, Andy’s MP, Damian Collins, asked the Home Secretary if she agreed that there should be “a review of the guidance given to the police before action like this is taken against accredited journalists”. Priti Patel’s reply was not helpful Andy said: “It was really weird to find myself in the spotlight, but I was furious and it was very important that the story got out. It could have been very damaging for me. Te NUJ has been fantastic with their support during a week of my life which has been a very tricky time


for me and my family.” Nadine was deeply


shocked by Kemi Badenoch’s response to her


question. In an article in the Evening


Standard, she said: “I found the ordeal to be humiliating and stressful, particularly at a time when I’m grieving the death of my older sister who passed away from Covid-19.” It was also an atack on press freedom, she said. Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general


secretary, said Kemi Badenoch had been out of order: “Elected representatives should be working to boost standards of public discourse, not indulging in pety outbursts towards journalists and journalism.” Tis sort of abuse is not new to Nadine. She told the NUJ that as a journalist and woman of colour she regularly received vile messages. “I get called the n-word, which has become part and parcel of my job covering race and social affairs.” She always reports it on Twiter and tells her employer.


Andy Aitchison


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