AN MSP has written to Scotland’s Chief Constable after a National journalist was threatened with arrest by an officer.
Xander Elliards was covering a major protest which saw clashes between the police and protesters at the Thales site in Govan.
The National’s content editor was standing roughly 100m from the demonstration when he was confronted by an officer who claimed he was being “obstructive to the police”.
During the confrontation recorded by Elliards – which took place in a public street – the officer claimed he didn’t have “free roam to go about protest sites” and suggested he could be arrested under Section 20 of the Police and Fire Reform Act.
Maggie Chapman – who is also the Scottish Greens' parliamentary justice spokesperson said it was a “concerning interaction”.
The MSP for North East Scotland added that freedom of the press is “vital for a functional democracy” and shared a letter on Twitter/X that she wrote to Police Scotland’s Chief Constable Jo Farrell (below).
Freedom of the Press is vital for a functional democracy. Today I wrote to the Chief Constable of @PoliceScotland following the release of footage (link ⬇️) showing a concerning interaction between an officer & journalist. Our journalists must be able to cover important events! pic.twitter.com/5g7Px1JE97
— Maggie Chapman MSP (@MaggieChapman) May 16, 2024
Chapman said that in light of the incident, she is seeking “urgent replies” from Police Scotland to the following questions: “What measures have been put in place to ensure that police are protecting the right to free speech by protestors, and the freedom of the press?
“What training have the officers policing these protests received to ensure that they are not violating the rights of individuals participating in protest or those of journalists reporting on the same in the public interest?
“What actions are being taken by Police Scotland in relation to this incident and to wider concerns about the way in which this protest was policed, in light of the principle of policing by consent?”
Chapman added: “I look forward to hearing from you as a matter of urgency.”
