london diary

At this point I had to leave. Well, I tried to leave, but even with a press card the police wouldn't let me walk along the road. So I had to make my way along the dockside and then go back up to the road some way along. Why? I think just because the demonstrators had made the police in charge look a bit stupid and they were a bit upset and just wanted to give a few people a little grief. The media are an easy target, and photographers are the most obvious aspect of the media. You can't stand to one side to take pictures, you are very much in the open and obvious.

The NUJ had a conference earlier this year at which one of the Met's big bosses spoke. At least at the top there is a recognition of the need for the police to let the press do its job. We have a card scheme and there is an agreement about how we should work with each other. Just a pity that so many of the police lower down have either never read the leaflet on it or have chosen to take no notice.
 

Still the extra walk did give me another chance to photograph Canary Wharf, and I still got back to the City in time for a quick pint before my meeting.