Police ordered to delete photographs of protester

Police have been told to destroy images of peaceful campaigners protesting against the arms trade.

The Court of Appeal ruled that police surveillance teams photographing protester Andrew Wood has interfered disproportionately with Mr Wood’s right to privacy.

The Metropolitan Police were ordered to delete photographs taken of Mr Wood in 2005 while he was protesting in London as part of the Campaign Against Arms Trade. Mr Wood was photographed coming out of London’s Millennium Hotel, where he had attended the annual general meeting of Reed Elsevier PLC, parent company of Spearhead Exhibitions Ltd which runs trade fairs for the arms industry.

He had gained lawful access to the meeting by purchasing a share in the company, has no criminal convictions and has never been arrested as a result of any campaigning activities.

Mr Wood was represented by human rights group Liberty, and claimed that the police actions were unlawful and violated Article 8 – the right to a private life.

His case was dismissed by a High Court judge in May 2008, but an appeal against the ruling was allowed at the Court of Appeal on Thursday.