news


Scale of Northern Ireland police spy tactics sparks serious concerns


THE NUJ has expressed grave concern at a report by the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s (PSNI’s) chief constable into the use of covert powers against journalists and lawyers. The McCullough review was presented to the Policing Board


of Northern Ireland in June and revealed that 323 applications for journalists’ phone data, including 10 attempts to identify confidential sources, had been made by the PSNI. In addition, 500 applications were reported in relation to phone data held by lawyers. The report was delivered against the backdrop of revelations at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal regarding the surveillance of investigative journalists Barry McCaffrey, Trevor Birney and Vincent Kearney and the recent announcement by the chief constable of the appointment of a king’s counsel investigation by Angus McCullough into the use of surveillance powers. Séamus Dooley, NUJ assistant general secretary, has been


appointed to a group of experts and stakeholders advising the investigation. He said: “The NUJ has grave concern at the scale and extent of the surveillance revealed yesterday. The report raises fundamental questions about how the PSNI views journalists and the official perspective of the role and function of journalists in a democratic society. “The NUJ, Amnesty International and the Committee for the Administration of Justice have been to the fore in highlighting concerns at the use of surveillance powers, covert and non-covert, to track the work of journalists and to undermine journalistic sources. Police accessing journalists’ communications data for the explicit purpose of identifying


KEVIN COOPER “


confidential sources is unacceptable and we do not accept the attempt to reframe 10 incidents which were unambiguously for the purpose of identifying their confidential sources on 10 occasions.” He added: “The McCullough review is an important


development and may offer NUJ members an opportunity to clarify the practices and procedures used by the PSNI and allay some concerns. “However, it is not a substitute for an independent inquiry


established under statute by the policing board or the justice minister. “The outcome of the McCullough review should inform the actions of the Policing Board and will have to consider the eventual outcome of the ongoing Investigatory Powers Tribunal cases, which have shaken the confidence of the public in the PSNI.”


Missing Ukrainian reporter detained


THE FAMILY of a Ukrainian journalist reported missing in August 2023 have been told by Russia that she was arrested and is in custody. Viktoria Roshchyna left Ukraine on


27 July with plans to travel to eastern Ukraine through Russia before her disappearance. Her father received a letter from the Russian military police informing


him of her detention. Her reporting on the conflict had been extensive and appeared in multiple Ukrainian media outlets. Sergiy Tomilenko, president of the


Vigils for Palestine and Orgreave


JOURNALISTS and film-makers, including members of Sheffield and South Yorkshire NUJ, joined a vigil in support of Palestine in June during the Sheffield International Documentary Festival. The festival champions the breadth of documentary form – journalism, film, television, immersive and art each year. Protesters read out the names of 116 journalists killed since October by Israeli forces and an installation of paper flags and commemorations was shown outside the cinema where delegates met.


04 | theJournalist The event was organised by a delegation


from the Palestine Film Institute, who met colleagues and journalists during the festival to extend networks and explore collaborations. In attendance were members of Sheffield


NUJ and the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign, as well as film-makers and delegates from all over the world. There was a mutual showing of solidarity with the 40 years of Orgreave vigil a day later. Daniel Gordon’s Strike: an Uncivil War documentary was premiered, and guests included miners who were arrested during the 1984 strike.


National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, said: “Unfortunately, we do not know the details of Viktoria’s whereabouts. “She is deprived of any


opportunities for legal protection or communication with others.”


The report raises fundamental questions about how the Police Service of Northern Ireland views journalists


Séamus Dooley NUJ assistant general secretary


GARRY CLARKSON / BMT FILM & MEDIA


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32