The Society, represented by Walter Benzie and myself, was invited to a meeting at the Home Office last week to discuss the new proposals in Clause 47A, which were put in place as a Remedial Order on March 18, ahead of legislation. A very much more restricted order, it was noted that no authorisation for the new Clause 47A has occurred to date.

Lord MacDonald's report acknowledged that photographers should not be targeted just because they were photographers and the Home office staff wish to work with photographers to ensure that officers are correctly briefed on this matter. We have been provided with the opportunity to comment on the statutory code of practice for section 47 and on other documents as they are published.

We were also advised of a training review and consultation for training of Security Guards, within Project Griffin and with the Security Industry Authority.

The Home Office indicated that they wished to continue consultation and will be planning further meetings. The Society and other organisations attending the meeting (Amateur Photographer, the National Union of Journalists, the Bureau of Freelance Photographers and SceneThat) welcomed this.

Rosemary Wilman HonFRPS
President