Police Releasing Videos
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Discussion

Armchair Expert

Original Poster:

3,102 posts

103 months

Thursday 27th August 2020
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I was watching Police Zero yesterday and then some local news were they released footage of a confrontation with party goes and later of a guy filming doing hundred something on a motorway and they were looking for him, it was about speed the film..

It occurred to me that the police regularly publish footage from various cameras being body warn, in car or street.

So what is the law as we are led to believe they can not publish Diane Abbott's Dawn Butler's video or the athletes that made a similar complaint a few weeks ago?

Edit: for mistakes

Edited by Armchair Expert on Tuesday 8th September 02:34

vonhosen

40,597 posts

246 months

Thursday 27th August 2020
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[redacted]

donkmeister

12,837 posts

129 months

Thursday 27th August 2020
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If the subjects of the video agree to it, can they be shared then?

I'm not aware of a Diane Abbot video butnif we're talking about public figures who've made allegations against the police, I think it would be in the public interest to see if the Dawn Butler one supports her allegations or if it reveals them to be misguided or an attempt to antagonise the officers. I'm hoping one of the latter two as the first would support the notion of a corrupt police force.

Hogstar

23 posts

102 months

Sunday 6th September 2020
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I think it would help the police case massively if they could release the video footage of these incidents in a timely manner, however, there are rules regarding ongoing cases and releasing evidence could prejudice these (legal proceedings can take years)
Unfortunately what usually happens is a member of the public releases an edited clip showing their side of the event and portraying them in the best possible light amid much media coverage. The police's hands are tied and they are unable to release their footage which contradicts the original video and the general public only see one side of the incident which often misses the start of it.
By the time the matter is dealt with either internally or by the courts, and the police release their footage the media interest around the case has completely died down and no one is interested. All that the public remember then is the initial video. Unfortunately, the police are very bad at dealing with the bad publicity they sometimes receive.

Drawweight

3,588 posts

145 months

Sunday 6th September 2020
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Hogstar said:
I think it would help the police case massively if they could release the video footage of these incidents in a timely manner, however, there are rules regarding ongoing cases and releasing evidence could prejudice these (legal proceedings can take years)
Unfortunately what usually happens is a member of the public releases an edited clip showing their side of the event and portraying them in the best possible light amid much media coverage. The police's hands are tied and they are unable to release their footage which contradicts the original video and the general public only see one side of the incident which often misses the start of it.
By the time the matter is dealt with either internally or by the courts, and the police release their footage the media interest around the case has completely died down and no one is interested. All that the public remember then is the initial video. Unfortunately, the police are very bad at dealing with the bad publicity they sometimes receive.
That’s the law and the fickleness of the public which they can’t do much about either.

However they could make a clear statement in high publicity cases that the full police video footage will be released on completion of the case.

Okay it might take years to do so and most people will have lost interest but it might give the person under investigation something to think about before throwing accusations about if they know they are wrong or exaggerated.

Centurion07

10,395 posts

276 months

Sunday 6th September 2020
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Thing is, once one side has released their footage then surely the case is already prejudiced, so releasing the opposing footage is just evening things up?

Cyberprog

2,324 posts

212 months

Sunday 6th September 2020
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[redacted]

Derek Smith

49,714 posts

277 months

Sunday 6th September 2020
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Cyberprog said:
Well, I can't comment on the party one, but if the video of the guy going 100+ was filmed by someone in the car, and they were trying to find the person, then presumably they have committed a breach of copyright in broadcasting the video.

Of course, you can't enforce that copyright unless you were a passenger, and then you might be compelled to tell them who the driver was. Not sure if that would have any legs though. If it was the drivers video however, he or she would be stuffed!
Public interest trumps a great deal.

Armchair Expert

Original Poster:

3,102 posts

103 months

Tuesday 8th September 2020
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Sorry to come back to this but what public prosecution of who?

I am not aware that the police are taking the cases any further, especially in the MPs case.

Secondly TV cameras regularly report on live cases, news stories, reality shows, documentaries were TV crews follow the police?

anonymous-user

83 months

Tuesday 8th September 2020
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There is widespread misunderstanding of the rules about contempt of court in relation to reporting matters that are the subject of criminal processes.

In broad summary, the only thing that is not allowed is the publication of material that creates a substantial risk of serious prejudice to the fair trial of a criminal matter that has passed the charging stage.

Publication of videos may also in some but not all cases engage separate rules about data handling.

Videos filmed in private are another subject altogether, but this thread concerns videos filmed in public AFAIK.


Armchair Expert

Original Poster:

3,102 posts

103 months

Monday 6th September 2021
quotequote all
Well it has now been over a year since Dawn Butler and Bianca Williams accussed the police of racism for stopping them in their cars, so how are the lawsuit going then? I would have thought both parties would be keeping us all informed.

Bigends

6,153 posts

157 months

Monday 6th September 2021
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[redacted]

CoolHands

23,399 posts

224 months

Wednesday 27th April 2022
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They now face multiple allegations

“ Five Metropolitan Police officers will face a gross-misconduct hearing over the stop-and-search of Team GB athlete Bianca Williams, following an investigation by the police watchdog.”

…”all 5 would face allegations they had breached police standards of professional behaviour for duties and responsibilities and for equality and diversity.
Four officers also face allegations they breached the standards for use of force and for authority, respect and courtesy.
Three of the constables will face allegations they breached the standards for honesty and integrity and one will face an allegation they breached the police standards of professional behaviour for orders and instructions.”

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-61236...

What happened to the original thread on this? Did it get binned cos I can’t find it.