3:00pm Friday 10th July 2009
FURIOUS campaigners have criticised police for taking their photos at a peaceful meeting about the future of Southend Airport.
Residents and members of campaign groups met with the Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Norman Baker at the airport building.
But during the meeting and as they were leaving, they were photographed by a police officer.
Essex Police said they took the pictures of people on “crime and disorder” grounds, but the move has been seen as an intrusion into people’s civil liberties.
Lewes MP Mr Baker visited the airport and met members of Greenpeace and the anti-airport group Stop Airport Expansion Now, as plans to extend the airport are up for consultation.
Speaking after the meeting, he told the Echo it was an “outrage” that police were taking pictures.
He said: “People should be able to lobby members of parliament without being photographed by the police.
“The meeting was an exercise in democracy and a good opportunity to see the airport and meet with residents.
“It was quite wrong that police were taking pictures.”
Kiti Theobald, chairman of the Stop Airport Extension Now group, had gone to the meeting to speak to Mr Baker about her concerns over proposed expansion.
She said: “I was walking out of the main building and there was a policeman with a camera. I asked him if he was taking pictures of me and he said yes.
“I asked him why, but he just said his boss told him to do it. He wouldn’t tell me anything else about it.
“I am not a criminal and had gone there to speak to Mr Baker, as the airport is an important issue for local people.
“I found it very disconcerting as I haven’t done anything wrong.”
Greenpeace campaigner Sheena Walker, from Southend, also said she was shocked.
She added: “I have seen police taking pictures at legal, organised, peaceful protest marches, but never at something like this.
“I think it was completely unnecessary and totally inappropriate. It must be really off-putting to people who have never seen it before.”
Essex Police had a van and several officers stationed at the airport – despite only a handful of people at the meeting.
Police spokeswoman Donna Veasey confirmed pictures had been taken.
She said: “We took the pictures to prevent any crime and disorder taking place. Due to there being none, the images will be destroyed.”
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