Dear Ms. Pearce,
I am writing to you as my MP because of my treatment at the hands of Bexley
council and their officials last night. I am hoping you will be able to deliver
it to the appropriate Minister and seek a response.
I attended last night’s council meeting as I always do, equipped with a
professional grade SLR camera, intending to take pictures of any protestors that
might be there. It was equipped with a 14mm extreme wide angle lens (not a zoom)
to enable me to take photos of banners etc. from only a couple of feet away as
crowds will otherwise get in the way. It is equipment totally unsuited for any
sort of paparazzi sneak shots from afar.
Upon entering the Civic Centre I was refused access because I was carrying a
camera inside its protective case and at the bottom of an ordinary shopping bag.
It was explained I had three choices. Go away, hand the camera over with advice
that it would be at my own risk and no receipt would be given, or be arrested.
This is how democracy works in Bexley despite the specific advice issued to all
council leaders and monitoring officers by Bob Neill, the Under Secretary of
State at the Department of Communities and Local Government as recently as 23
February, that recording of public council events should be welcomed by
councils.
I argued that my camera would take several seconds to be ready for action and
with the huge number of ‘heavies’ the council had hired to protect themselves
from public scrutiny etc. there was no way I would be able to use the camera in
the council chamber even if I had equipped it with a suitable lens. But Bexley
council’s new rules, freshly printed this month in direct contravention of Bob
Neill’s advice, had to prevail even though the displayed notices actually said
“No photography” not “No cameras admitted”.
Fortunately a councillor with a little common sense and of greater intellect
than Bexley’s leader had overheard the conversation and came to my rescue.
Councillor Christopher Ball stepped in and offered to lock my camera in his
office. This I was happy to do and I am most grateful for his intervention, but
it should not have been necessary. I understand that several people not
fortunate enough to have been assisted by one of the few decent councillors we
have in Bexley were excluded from this public meeting because they were
unwilling to leave their cameras at the mercy of a hired-in heavy mob.
I am sure you will agree that this was outrageous behaviour on the part of
Bexley’s leadership both elected and not and should be challenged at the highest
level to which you have access. I would ask for your urgent assistance in this
matter.
I have attached for your convenience a
copy of Mr. Neill’s letter to Bexley
council’s leader.
yours sincerely
Malcolm Knight