'Detain those two'. Police unlawfully arrested photographer Tom Bowles at M25 Just Stop Oil protest

Hertfordshire police admit breaching human rights of journalist arrested at protest

https://bhattmurphy.co.uk/newsroom/hertfordshire-police-admit-breaching-human-rights-of-journalist-arrested-at-protest/

Tom Bowles, a professional photographer, was arrested whilst photographing a Just Stop Oil protest by officers untrained in the important role of the media at protests.

https://politicsthisweek.wordpress.com/2024/11/28/not-the-bcfm-politics-show-presented-by-tony-gosling-218/

Tom was detained for over 14 hours, his equipment was seized and his family home was searched late at night.

Hertfordshire police have admitted his arrest was unlawful and that his human rights were breached, and have paid compensation to Tom and his family.

Read the press release here.

Tom and his family were represented by Molly Cox at Bhatt Murphy Solicitors and Jude Bunting KC at Doughty Street Chambers.

For previous coverage of Tom’s arrest, please see the following:

Tom’s interview for Channel 4:

https://www.channel4.com/news/police-call-for-review-after-journalists-detained-for-attending-uk-protest

Senior officers ordered ‘unlawful’ arrests of journalists at Just Stop Oil protests | Police | The Guardian
Senior officers back press freedom after journalists arrested covering protests | Evening Standard

Hertfordshire police admit they breached the human rights of journalist arrested at protest

Tom Bowles was arrested whilst photographing a Just Stop Oil protest by officers untrained in the important role of the media at protests

He was detained for over 14 hours, his equipment was seized and his family home was searched late at night

Hertfordshire police have admitted his arrest was unlawful and that his human rights were breached.

On 7 November 2022 Tom, a professional photographer, was photographing a Just Stop Oil protest on the M25.

He was arrested for conspiracy to commit public nuisance despite making clear to numerous officers that he was there as a member of the press just doing his job.

He repeatedly offered officers his press card, which has a hotline on the back that would have instantly verified that he was a member of the press. His arresting officer later admitted not understanding anything about the press, or how a press card works.

Tom was one of a number of journalists arrested unlawfully at protests in November 2022.

An independent review carried out shortly after his arrest found that officers were directed to arrest, finding that “arrest was the likely outcome regardless of the information obtained” [1].

The review also found that Tom’s arresting officer had not completed required training on the rights of reporters and photographers during public order situations, despite that “it was entirely foreseeable that journalists were going to be present at sites of activity with a view of reporting on the impact” [2].

Tom pursued civil action against Hertfordshire police, who admitted that his arrest was unlawful and a breach of his human rights. The police have also agreed to pay compensation to Tom and his family as part of an out of court settlement.

Tom and his family were represented by Molly Cox at Bhatt Murphy Solicitors and Jude Bunting KC at Doughty Street Chambers.

QUOTES

Molly Cox, Tom’s solicitor at Bhatt Murphy Solicitors, said:

“Freedom of the press is fundamental to our democracy. In arresting Tom, the police prevented him from reporting on a climate protest, in essence silencing government opposition and dissent.

We welcome the Chief Constable’s admission that Tom should never have been arrested, and hope that Hertfordshire and other forces have learnt from the ordeal Tom and his family have been through”.