The UK Press Gazette has reported that a group of Fleet Street photographers have agreed that the faces of firearms offices can be blurred to protect their identities.

NUJ General Secretary, Jeremy Dear, said: “If this report proves to be true then it is a worrying development. There are already clear guidelines detailing how relations between the press and the police should be conducted. Those guidelines have been agreed between ACPO, the NUJ and other news organisations. We would have serious concerns if they were to be undermined by unilateral action by a specific branch of the police force.

“Most photographers will be deeply concerned by these reports, particularly since it is not for the photographer to decide when identities should be protected. That’s a decision for editors, so if the police are serious about addressing this issue, they should be approaching picture desk editors and bodies representing the relevant journalists’ interests.

“The NUJ will continue to work with our sister organisations to ensure that no arbitrary or unwarranted restrictions are applied to the media’s ability to report the news.”

21 August 2008