I want to suggest to anyone thinking of going anywhere near the Olympics, any of the sites or events to read the article by David Hoffman on the EPUK website.

David talks about a meeting in April with the National union of journalists and the Metropolitan police  “Photographers, already wary of the shoddy reputation of G4S, were concerned that poorly trained and aggressive security guards would interfere with their freedom to work in public spaces.” and in the article he says   (the 2nd paragraph is of particular importance):

“Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison and Commander Bob Broadhurst gave those present a well practised briefing. They detailed some aspects of the biggest UK policing operation in history, the £600m budget, the 1.8m prearranged individual police journeys and the 12 wonderfully named Gold Commanders who would make it all work.

Allison, in overall charge of Olympic security, was adamant that there would be no problem. G4S, he explained, would only work inside the park. Allison said G4S had no role in the public spaces outside and assured us that photographers working on public land outside the Olympic site would only have well-trained and professional police to deal with.”

So they attempted to find out if this was the case, as the article says they were approached by G4S security. If you want more information please read the rest of the article on EPUK  Watch Out! there’s a G4S about. And you can also go to the NUJ website and read Hostile Olympic Security

So please consider your rights as a citizen and photographer. And especially consider the final piece of advice.

“If there are protests – and that seems likely – then photographers would be well advised to keep a sound recorder running and to take plenty of pictures showing the security staff and their behaviour. Because if things do go pear-shaped – and who’d bet against that? – photographers will need all the evidence they can get”