Now the police are harassing journalists
The coronavirus coppers keep on crossing the line.

Want to read spiked ad-free? Become a spiked supporter.
The British police are out of control. Nearly every day now new video evidence emerges of overzealous policing. In enforcing the coronavirus lockdown, police are routinely going way beyond the letter of the already draconian law.
Now they’re harassing journalists who try to report on their antics. Journalist Michael Segalov was walking in Finsbury Park last week when he saw a distressed woman in an altercation with the police, so he began filming:
The other week journalist @MikeSegalov got hassled and shouted at by the police for filming an incident in a park. Here's the footage. Not a good look for the police – breaking social distancing rules by surrounding him and wrongly shouting at a journalist to go home. pic.twitter.com/BKXSXbE6Gm
— Great Editor (@simonchilds13) April 16, 2020
Police then started to surround him, preventing him from filming the incident. They started shouting at him and threatened to fine him. One officer yelled at Segalov: ‘You are killing people. Go home.’
Incidents like this are becoming far too common. In the past few weeks, police have also been filmed kicking down doors to investigate non-existent gatherings (one man was watching TV alone), and telling people they have no right to sit in their own garden. And now they are harassing journalists trying to expose their behaviour.
The cops need to be put back in their box.
This is what we're up against...
A media ecosystem dominated by a handful of billionaire owners, bad actors spreading disinformation online and the rich and powerful trying to stop us publishing stories. But we have you on our side. Supporters help to fund our journalism and those who choose All-access digital enjoy exclusive extras:
- Unlimited articles in our app and ad-free reading on all devices
- Exclusive newsletter and far fewer asks for support
- Full access to the Guardian Feast app
If you can, please support us on a monthly basis and make a big impact in support of open, independent journalism. Thank you.
Comments
Want to join the conversation?
Only spiked supporters and patrons, who donate regularly to us, can comment on our articles.