UK: Metropolitan police request riot footage

The Metropolitan Police have served a notice of application for a production order on the Guardian seeking “all published and unpublished footage and images between 6 to 10 August with respect to the disorder within London and the area policed by the Met Police”. David Cameron had earlier told MPs that the media has a “responsibility” to immediately release footage to help police track down and punish those responsible for the violence in August. Journalists and media organisations expressed concern over the request, with broadcasters BBC and ITN maintaining that police must follow the proper procedure of obtaining a court order to avoid compromising editorial standards.

UK: FA introduces “censorship code”

The FA has brought in a code of conduct to prevent staff, board and council members talking freely to the press. The new “censorship code” insists that the press office are alerted to any media enquiries, and no FA business is to be divulged to the press. The code, which was introduced by company secretary Alistair McLean, also restricts what can be relayed by councillors to bodies they represent. The move comes after FA chairman David Bernstein called for a transparent football government against FIFA corruption at the Congress in Zurich last June.

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