Guy gets his kit back

GUY SMALLMAN reminded the January Branch meeting that on 25 June last year he was arrested "for the crime of dong my job" - which at the time was covering a peaceful, theatrical protest by a group called “Youth Demand” in the grounds of the country home of Rishi Sunak, who was at the time a prime minister.

Guy Smallman

Image © Guy Smallman

The police confiscated a my equipment: "I asked why, when if there was any evidence, it would be on a memory card, they had to take the lot." They had no answer, and Guy had no kit: "no camera, no phone, no return ticket, nothing.

"So I got back to London and got a new phone and the first call was from Mariam of the Branch, who had somehow tracked me down."

After five-and-a-half months of David Ayrton in the Freelance Office pressing the police, last week Guy got his kit back. " Anyone with the least knowledge could have decided in five minutes, rather than five months, that I Was not guilty of any crime."

After his arrest Guy had crowdfunded for temporary equipment. He has decided to donate that set to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS), based in Ramallah in the West Bank. "They are involved in training journalists for situations that are frankly beyond our comprehension" and he hopes the equipment will help with that.

Guy thanked "everyone - the NUJ offcials and he Branch - for your support.

© Mike Holderness

Police seize Guy’s kit the arrest