During a house search in Alblasserdam on Monday evening, the police viewed the images of a photojournalist and partially deleted them by order of the investigating judge. The NVJ journalists’ union calls the course of events “completely against the rules” and has hired a lawyer.
The photographer was on the public street photographing the house being searched. According to the Rotterdam court spokesman, he took photos of the civil servants who worked there.
“We were always asked not to do it, and he didn’t agree. The investigating judge then decided that the images should be deleted,” says the court spokesman. “It is extremely important that journalists can do their job, there must be freedom of the press.”
The police also confirm that the photographer’s equipment was seized and that this went against the agreements.
The house search took place at the home of the man suspected of involvement in the shooting of a 74-year-old man in Kinderdijk in South Holland last week. The victim was seriously injured.
The NVJ assists the photographer with a lawyer. The association believes that it needs to be clarified that a mistake has been made. “We want to prevent journalists from being seen as an extension of the judiciary, and actions like this make that happen.”
The police and the court let it be known that they want to sit down with the photographer.
