Broadcast letters dated 4 July 2008

Know your rights over public filming

As The Insider states, (Broadcast, 20/06/08) there is an increasing problem faced by small crews filming in London. This has led the Guild of Television Cameramen to open dialogue with the Metropolitan Police's Film Unit, Film London and various politicians. Discussions to date suggest that many of the problems could be solved by proper training; not only for security staff and police community support officers (PCSOs), but for the crews themselves.

For example, The Insider complains of being stopped while filming on private property. This is hardly surprising. Many places which offer open access to the public are indeed privately owned and a simple phone call to the management of those locations, explaining what you are doing, will normally make life a lot easier for everyone involved.

On the other hand, a letter I recently received from my MP, confirms that according to police and security minister Tony McNulty: "There is no legal restriction on photography in public places and there is no presumption of privacy for individuals in a public place."

So, the next time you're stopped by an over-officious PCSO, you can confidently quote Mr McNulty. There are also police guidelines you can download from the MP Film Unit's website. It works both ways. You need to make sure that you are totally within your rights and being courteous. "They" need to make sure that they too are in the right and should be equally courteous.

In London, we are very fortunate as both Film London and the MP Film Unit have excellent websites that outline both our rights as TV and film crews and our responsibilities.

As television crews, we have no greater, nor no lesser rights than those of the general public. Those rights need to be preserved. Hopefully, we can do so by getting the right people on our side.
Brian Rose
Chairman, the Guild of Television Cameramen

A fine way to benefit from GCap's penalty
In the week that Ofcom fined radio giant GCap £1.1m for a premium rate phone scam, London community station TGR Sound closed through lack of funds.

Not-for-profit community stations across the UK are struggling to pay the bills while commercial radio boosts its profits by slashing local shows and in some cases moving their studios out of the towns they claim to serve.

So here's an idea: share the GCap Media fine equally among the UK's 162 community stations, giving them a windfall of £6,790 each Đ a drop in the ocean for commercial radio but a handsome lifeline for volunteer radio stations run on a wing and a prayer. The money will otherwise end up in Treasury coffers.

So how about it, Alistair? Here's a chance to prove you're the darling of the many community radio stations that are poor in pocket but rich in diversity.
Ian McGregor
Managing director, Just Talking PR