The British government’s repressive reaction to the recent uprisings in London and other cities in the U.K. has taken a new twist as print and broadcasting news organizations face pressure to hand over material that could then be used in criminal prosecutions. The companies include Sky News, the Guardian, the Times and BBC.
The intimidation began weeks ago as police exerted pressure informally, asking media companies to voluntarily hand over film footage, including material that had never been broadcast. These meetings were followed by letters, and now Scotland Yard has said it will obtain a court order to force companies to release the material.
The move would effectively make the news media arms of the state, removing all pretenses of journalistic independence. Companies have said they will resist the effort, but indications are that they will comply if faced with a court order. A BBC spokesman addressed the issue, saying, “Any request would need to be dealt with by the courts.”
