NUJ welcomes Met Police confirmation that journalists’ data is no longer retained

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The European Court of Human Rights overturned a British court’s decision in 2019, ruling that retention of personal data by police must be necessary, proportionate and subject to proper safeguards.

The NUJ supported the case of John Oldroyd Catt, who was recorded on a domestic extremism database for attending protests between 2005 and 2009 despite never being convicted of a violent offence.

Mr Catt requested his police records in 2010 under the Data Protection Act and asked for the data to be permanently deleted.

Police refused, and the Supreme Court ruled that retaining the data was lawful.

Photographer and NUJ member David Hoffman said: “Being labelled a domestic extremist by the Met when I was simply trying to report on public events was chilling.

“The knowledge of this Met surveillance still affects how journalists approach protest coverage and contact with campaigners and is a lasting harm. Deletion isn’t accountability.”

NUJ general secretary Laura Davison called it a “major victory,” adding: “The police cannot impede journalists in their work.”

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