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Police call threat for Richard Taylor over council filming | |
(34 minutes later) | |
A member of the public was told the police would be called unless he stopped filming a council meeting. | |
Richard Taylor, 33, from Cambridge, was ordered to dismantle his camera equipment at a Huntingdonshire District Council meeting on Wednesday evening. | Richard Taylor, 33, from Cambridge, was ordered to dismantle his camera equipment at a Huntingdonshire District Council meeting on Wednesday evening. |
Mr Taylor was attempting to test guidance from Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles that such recordings should be permitted. | Mr Taylor was attempting to test guidance from Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles that such recordings should be permitted. |
The council said it needed to amend its constitution before allowing filming. | The council said it needed to amend its constitution before allowing filming. |
Earlier in the day Mr Taylor, a citizen journalist and campaigner, said he had checked the council's rules which state the authority requires three days' notice from anyone wishing to film. | Earlier in the day Mr Taylor, a citizen journalist and campaigner, said he had checked the council's rules which state the authority requires three days' notice from anyone wishing to film. |
He said he contacted Mr Pickles on Twitter and received the reply: "As reported three day notice not required. Council meetings should be open." | He said he contacted Mr Pickles on Twitter and received the reply: "As reported three day notice not required. Council meetings should be open." |
However, at the meeting he said he was told police would be called if he refused to dismantle his tripod and camcorder. | However, at the meeting he said he was told police would be called if he refused to dismantle his tripod and camcorder. |
Mr Taylor kept the tape running for 25 minutes. | Mr Taylor kept the tape running for 25 minutes. |
On the video, posted on YouTube, the head of legal and democratic services Colin Meadowcroft is seen warning Mr Taylor: "We're going to have to ask you not to do it and, if you're not, I'm afraid we're going to have to call the police. | On the video, posted on YouTube, the head of legal and democratic services Colin Meadowcroft is seen warning Mr Taylor: "We're going to have to ask you not to do it and, if you're not, I'm afraid we're going to have to call the police. |
"We don't want to do that, that's silly." | "We don't want to do that, that's silly." |
Eventually he was allowed to continue after council members intervened. | Eventually he was allowed to continue after council members intervened. |
Earlier this month, Mr Pickles underlined the right of journalists and citizens to film council meetings. | Earlier this month, Mr Pickles underlined the right of journalists and citizens to film council meetings. |
He issued guidance stating that local authorities should allow the public to film and record their meetings. | He issued guidance stating that local authorities should allow the public to film and record their meetings. |
Responding to Mr Taylor's experience, local government minister Brandon Lewis said: "Councils need to get with the fact that the public should be able to report, tweet and film public meetings." | Responding to Mr Taylor's experience, local government minister Brandon Lewis said: "Councils need to get with the fact that the public should be able to report, tweet and film public meetings." |
A council spokesman said: "There are processes that the council has to go through in order to amend its constitution. | A council spokesman said: "There are processes that the council has to go through in order to amend its constitution. |
"For the council to comply with the new guidance there will need to be an amendment to the constitution, which is then reported to the next corporate governance panel." | "For the council to comply with the new guidance there will need to be an amendment to the constitution, which is then reported to the next corporate governance panel." |
The panel is due to discuss possible changes on 24 July. | The panel is due to discuss possible changes on 24 July. |
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