Journalist in Trafalgar Square being harassed by Heritage Wardens

After being harassed recently by security guards while filming in Leyton today it was the turn of Trafalgar Square. When a journalist got out his camera and tripod in preparation for an interview two Heritage Wardens came over and told him he couldn't film there! He said he had received accreditation from Lowcog and had a press pass but this did not satisfy the guardians of the patrimony. Serious damage was being done to the historic fabric. Actually I looked up 'heritage' in the thesaurus just to check all the possible implications of this byword of conservation. And joy, up came 'legacy'! Of course, the wardens of the iconic paved estate were jealously protecting its engandered legacy. Truly the Olympics had worked its magic and, indeed, nearby stood the astonishingly crap clock!

Except the wardens were not impressed with the imprimatur of Lowcog! The journalist was slightly unclear who exactly was calling the shots, he was French, but told me the guardians of sobriety had said the Square was under the special jurisdiction of some City, by which I think he meant the GLA.

I protested at this demolition of the freedom of expression and when the uniformed ones would not back down suggested we do an impromptu interview on press freedom and launched into a defence of free speech for him to record. This caused the two officers to rush off to get their boss who came over and all three then remonstrated with the reporter, who most admirably stood his ground while I circled round trying to take pictures of the confrontation. Eventually an entente was reached, cordiality triumphed and our interview was allowed.

I am sure Anna Minton must have something to say about this!