Media workers should be allowed to do their work without interference, once they do not obstruct police officers, says Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith.
This is according to a statement from Media Association of T&T, after representatives met with the top cop following an incident where a reporter and videographer from TV6 were threatened, and obstructed while on duty on Divali holiday.
Members of their executive met with Griffith on Monday to discuss the incident along with “the larger issue of press freedom and the media’s ability to perform their duties without fear of intimidation or interference from the TTPS,” the statement said.
At the meeting, the organisation’s legal counsel, Dr Emir Crowne, said there were generally no police powers to prohibit filming, the taking of photographs or digital images in public spaces, unless such activities interfered with the police in the performance of their duties.
Griffith apologised on behalf of the officers’ who confronted the media who were filming people trapped in flood at El Socorro.
He said he intends to remind his divisional commanders of the need to treat media workers with respect and the right of media personnel to cover events occurring in public spaces without hindrance.
Griffith agreed that free media is essential to the proper functioning of a democracy and could not recall any incident in which media workers obstructed the protective services from doing their jobs.
He, however, expressed concern about media reports that may have been carried concerning the TTPS, or himself, when no apparent attempt was made to contact him for balance.
In response, MATT said it was a voluntary, professional association and could not comment on any individual story or media house; but, said it was an established journalistic practice to seek a response from all parties involved in a matter, except where the story may be of urgency. In those situations, a response is usually sought for subsequent stories.
“In the end, the public interest and the public good are at the heart of both the media’s mission and policing and for that we commend the Commissioner for a candid and conciliatory dialogue,” the statement said.
