Freelance photojournalist ready to 'challenge' South Yorkshire Police over Rotherham riots content
It's following violence & disorder in the Manvers area at the start of August
Last updated 14th Aug 2024
A freelance photojournalist - who captured a lot of the recent violence in the Manvers area of Rotherham - tells us he's been left feeling 'intimidated' by South Yorkshire Police.
Joel Goodman says the force have been in touch to let him know that they'll be pursuing a court order - to make him hand over his photographs from the disorder earlier this month.
He's been giving us his reasons as to why he's rejected South Yorkshire Police's request:
"The media shouldn't be perceived to be on the police's side.
"That can put us at danger and breach trust with people who might want to tell us about stuff or work with us, so it's always very important to keep that distinction.
"The police are not meant to do this; it's extremely dangerous.
"If someone wants to blow the whistle and needs to remain anonymous - then the police could abuse that power - so it's extremely important that things like this don't happen.
"I just want the police to back off and let me do my job, like I let them do their job.
"Given that I was the only freelancer working in Rotherham on the day, and all the other press photographers I spoke to weren't self-employed, maybe the police have seen me as a soft touch?"
South Yorkshire Police provided us with this statement in response:
"A request was made to a photographer, who was present at the violent disorder in Rotherham on Sunday 4 August, to share images taken at the scene. The photographer declined to provide these images with the investigation team.
"As part of our investigation, we are seeking to gather images and footage of the disorder from a variety of sources, including from members of the public and local businesses.
"As part of standard evidential capture, the investigative team looked at other options that could be considered.
"The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Schedule 1, Para 2) allows a judge to issue an order requiring a person or organisation to provide material to the police. These orders are regularly granted for phone records, bank accounts and other evidence held by organisations.
"In some circumstances, this act allows the court to require journalists to disclose material to the police. We are considering applying to the court for this sort of order in relation to the images from Sunday.
"If the application is made, the judge will consider the police's reasons for seeking the material, as well as the concerns raised by the photographer and the National Union of Journalists. We respect the concerns raised by the National Union of Journalists.
"Our priority remains the identification of those responsible for the disorder on Sunday and we welcome any support by those who hold information or have footage or images which could assist."