By Gabriel Princewill-
The CPS and the police are under pressure to explain why a photographer was arrested and charged, only for the charges to be dropped the day before trial.
The National Union Of Journalist(NUJ) have questioned the judgement of arresting a photographer in the course of his professional engagement, and subjecting him to wrong and humiliating conduct.
A representative of the NUJ told The Eye Of Media.Com: ”this was wrong and awful conduct by both the police and the CPS.
‘Members of the media must be able to pursue their professional endeavours without the bullish acts of the police interfering without just cause. The idea that Mr Legakis had his camera seized by police for two months is totally unacceptable.
‘The fact the charge was dropped just a day before trial after dragging him through the ordeal of both inconvenience and mental torture is very disturbing.
‘This case must be thoroughly investigated, and the NUJ is in the process of addressing this matter with the police. Police badly abused their powers, and it is imperative that the aggrieved photographer is adequately compensated.
‘It will set a bad precedent if no accountability is established’.
Following the abrupt withdrawal of charges against press photographer Dimitris Legakis(pictured) just a day before his trial, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has admitted fault in pursuing the case.
Legakis, who was arrested while lawfully taking pictures at a crime scene in Swansea, faced charges of assaulting an emergency worker, a case now deemed “disturbing” by Judge Walters at Swansea crown court.
The incident unfolded on 22nd September last year, as Legakis attended the scene of a car fire in Swansea.
Subsequently, it was revealed that the fire was part of a grim crime. David Clarke, 80, had attacked his wife, Helen, 77, with a hammer before setting fire to the car.
Amidst the chaos, an altercation ensued, leading to Legakis’s arrest.
In court, Legakis’s barrister, James Hartson, highlighted that his client was targeted by the police solely for carrying a camera. He was subjected to forceful arrest and endured 15 hours of detention before being charged with assault.
While the trial was set to commence on Tuesday, the case was abruptly dropped 24 hours earlier on Monday, with the prosecution citing a lack of evidence.
The CPS admitted, “There was no longer sufficient evidence to continue with the prosecution, and it should have been stopped sooner.”
South Wales police issued a statement acknowledging the CPS’s decision, but questions linger over the circumstances leading to Legakis’s arrest and subsequent legal ordeal.
Why the prosecution was not stopped sooner will be the subject of an investigation by The Eye Of Media.Com.
In response, Legakis expressed profound distress over the impact on his mental health and professional reputation. “Instead of being protected by the police, I was victimized by being arrested and held in custody,” he stated. His gear was seized for over two months, causing significant disruption to his work and personal life.
The case has reignited scrutiny over police conduct and the treatment of journalists exercising their right to report from public spaces.
It also questions the expertise of some CPS lawyers, who ought to be more effective on calling the right shots when handling criminal allegations from the police.
College of Policing guidelines explicitly state that media personnel should not be obstructed from reporting or filming incidents from a public place, emphasizing the autonomy of the press in determining publication.
South Wales Police has been contacted for further comment.