WORLDwrite demands freedom to film and slams ‘harassment’ by Hackney Council

WORLDwrite volunteers show off their medals at a sponsored run event held to raise money for its Freedom to Film campaign. Photograph: WORLDwrite

A charity has launched a campaign asserting its right to film in public places after claiming its volunteers were ‘harassed’ by Hackney Council officials.

WORLDwrite’s Freedom to Film campaign aims to highlight what it says are growing obstacles to filming in the borough

The Homerton-based organisation trains youngsters to use broadcast-quality equipment for journalistic projects, and its work has in the past been backed by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and major news agency Bloomberg.

Its director Ceri Dingle said its volunteers had been prevented from filming in public places including Millfields Park, Mandeville Square and outside Hackney Town Hall.

Ms Dingle said: “We ring Hackney Council out of courtesy and we are told we must apply for a film permit, but the law states these public spaces are held in trust by the council for the people of the area, so there is no requirement for a permit.

“We have experienced these problems all over London, but Hackney Council seems to be particularly noteworthy for the number of bureaucrats and park wardens and jobsworths who prevent our volunteers from speaking to the public.”

Hackney Council said it would be ‘happy to work with’ the organisation.

‘Jobsworths’

Ms Dingle said WORLDwrite’s volunteers often interviewed members of the public and carried out ‘vox pops’ as part of their journalistic training but had been ‘harassed’ by council officials who tried to stop them from doing so because they “might be paedophiles”.

“In Mandeville Square we’ve been told by these jobsworths that we can’t film because there are vulnerable people there,” she said. “We were filming in Millfields Park with about 15 of our volunteer learners and we were told we couldn’t film because we might be paedophiles.

“You have to laugh really because this was a group of 15 students and a tutor. What did the warden think it was it, a paedophiles’ outing? Where do these people get their dirty minds from that they think this kind of thing about people?”

She criticised what she called the council’s “regulatory impulse”, adding: “There is always this attitude on the part of the council that they are protecting people.

“They always refer to protecting people from obstruction or protecting vulnerable people. No one has demanded these protections, which are a real obstacle, I would argue, to local democracy.

“You don’t get the same treatment if you get your iPhone out, but we are trying to teach people to use broadcast-quality stuff.”

WORLDwrite raised £4000 to fund its Freedom to Film campaign at a sponsored run event last weekend.

‘Sensitive issue’

A Hackney Council spokesperson said: “Filming and photography can be intrusive and disruptive and is a particularly sensitive issue near young people, vulnerable adults or family events such as weddings.

“Permission is required for filming on council-owned land to ensure shoots are safe and suitable.

“Hackney is an increasingly popular destination with film crews of all sizes and the council’s priority is to ensure that residents and businesses can go about their day-to-day lives without disruption.

“Our film office advises on logistics and negotiates on behalf of residents and businesses who might be affected. It also informs relevant bodies about shoots so that crews are not stopped unnecessarily.

“We arrange well over 1,000 film days a year. It’s a simple process and we’d be happy to work with WORLDWrite if they get in touch.”

In 2011 Hackney Council famously refused Channel 4 permission to film its drama Top Boy on estates in the borough.

The council does not allow residents the automatic right to film, tweet, or record council meetings.