Policing incident report

Photographer David Hoffman has prepared an A4 sheet of 10 cards (above) that you can give to fellow photographers to remind them to report policing encounters of all kinds, via this page - click to view the sheet. Image © David Hoffman

REPORTING "public order situations" can be difficult. Especially if you're a photographer, and the only place you can do it from is in the thick of it: often sandwiched between police officers, who just want everyone to go away (or stay put, depending on their orders) and protesters, some not seeing a difference between press and police photographers.

Both the NUJ and the British Press Photographers Association have held series of meetings with the Metropolitan Police to see how things can be improved. We need to hear how these things are playing out on the streets. If you are obstructed - or assisted - by police, please don't just shrug, but come here to log a brief report, as soon as possible after the event.

• This is not to be used as a request for immediate legal assistance!
• NUJ members see www.londonfreelance.org/emergency
• If you are stopped and searched you have a right to a "chit"* - - next time, ask politely for one. It could be worth a fortune!

1: In strict confidence - not for publication!
Your name
You belong to	nothing National Union of Journalists Association of Photographers BAPLA BPPA BECTU BIPP BoFP CIoJ Master Photographers' Assn Society of Authors Writers' Guild other		Hold down <Ctrl> key to select more than one organisation
If "other", what?	Organisation name
Your membership number
email address
Phone
2: When, where, who, what...
Date	dd/mm/yyyy
Time	as exact as possible!
Event
Location
Your rôle	Photographer
	Videographer / cameraperson
	Reporter
	other, specify:
Working for
Number(s) of the officer(s) involved
Do you know what police force(s) were involved?	The Metropolitan Police City of London Police British Transport Police Ministry of Defence Police Borders thingy other		Hold down <Ctrl> key to select more than one force
If "other", what?	Police force name
What happened?
Witness(es) who agree(s) to be contacted
Evidence?	There are photos of the incident  There is video of the incident  I have a stop-and-search chit (in a safe place!)
3: Click here to send...
If you get no response, please don't click again. If there's a problem, the system usually says so within 10 seconds, but it sometimes takes longer to say "OK". Wait to see whether you get a copy in email, and curse computers...
We promise we will not reveal any information you supply here to anyone else, except with your permission. This is merely a log of incidents.

Note:

* Technically, the "chit" is a "receipt" as defined by the Codes of Practice established by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Code A).