To feel a bit bad for the met police on bbc panorama undercover

I thought it was an invasion of their privacy. When in the job and being paid - then yes they should observe a code of conduct. In the pub they can say what they like as long as it’s not upsetting anyone. That journalist was egging them on. I was not happy with what was being said but I respect their right to a personal opinion. They see the worst of human nature and they need to vent

we seem to be in violent agreement here. Perhaps you misread my post?

Sorry, but the law on privacy really is black and white on this when it comes to filming and publishing the filming, I worked as a newspaper photographer, I knew the limits.. Public places are basically being out in the street. Pubs, houses, shopping malls, they're all privately owned and either needed permission from land owner, the persons photographed or the courts to publish it in the eyes of the law.

I wouldn't be shocked in the Met tried to block it and it went to court. If they didn't then, well kudos to the Met, not trying to hide it from us.

you could get me totally ratted and I wouldn't be saying stuff like that....remember in vino veritas.

in both circumstances, there is no expectation of personal privacy. I am guessing that the Met knew about the show before it was aired and gave permission for the footage to be shown. The company or organisation can object on the grounds of privacy (although I'd have LOVED to see the news coverage if they had) but if you are at work, apart from things like going to the loo, there is no expectation of personal privacy.

Being comfortable is subjective. You can film anyone doing anything in a public place in the UK, and you can publish it online, newspapers without consent. This is the media in the UK (I used to work for them).

What you cannot do is publish online or in print things done in a private area, somewhere you would expect a level of privacy such as your garden without either permission from the person photographed or by a court order. BUT people can film in private areas, unless asked to stop. Just can't publish said filming/photographs.

They were not lead on by a reporter, they were already saying bad things. Police, sorry to say, are to behave if on duty or not so being in the pub for a couple of bits is irrelevant.
I think the bullying, misogyny and the racism in our police force is very much in the public interest.

Do you remember the expenses scandal by our MP's? They tried very very hard to get that information quashed, saying it was 'unlawfully intrusive'. However, the courts decided we deserved to know. This happens a lot in this country, going to court to stop information being released.

OK. Would you feel comfortable about a colleague recording you at work or an evening out at a work event? I am not sure if this is legal.

In my old job (Occupational Therapy but fairly common in health professions) our governing body could sanction for "bringing the profession into disrepute" This was not limited to being in uniform or being on work premises. If members of the public could identify you as a health professional, and that might have been by overheard conversation, then they could, and did, sanction offenders. I have no idea what applies to police but don't be so sure such behaviour won't stand.

They are supposed to adhere to a code of conduct which stipulates that they don’t do anything to bring the profession into disrepute whether they are on or off duty.

Depends on what you think is public interest. These guys weren't in the workplace but a wee bit pissed after work in a pub and led on by a reporter. Did they behave unprofessionally in the workplace is what is required to be examined. If not, then I doubt their dismissal would stand.

Depends on what you think is public interest. These guys weren't in the workplace but a wee bit pissed after work in a pub and led on by a reporter. Did they behave unprofessionally in the workplace is what is required to be examined. If not, then I doubt their dismissal would stand.

If it's a private company, yes it is private. Even shopping at tesco is entering a private building when it comes to filming etc. I wouldn't know if the bookings room in a police station is private, but I would presume so.

Exactly, how could it work otherwise? Very different from taping celebrites' phones just for the hell of it.

How do you think investigative journalism works...?

What about the treatment of the pregnant woman, the sexual comments at work & the autistic teenager?

If you are talking in a pub its not private. If you are talking in your place of work its not private.

Absolutely nothing to do with stomping on someone's ankles, possibly lying on a witness statement. Being tough enough to do an incredibly hard job doesn't mean have to be an cruel, power crazy arsehole.

I saw enough on the trailer!

In journalism there is such thing as 'pubic interest' which would override any such worries, something that would get taken to court if they so wish. And it's nothing like the phone hacking. Investigative journalism has been around for years, similar to undercover policing if you like.

bollocks! I used to work in the NHS and know about the gallows humour but anyone saying anything even approaching what was said on there wouldn't have needed to be whistleblown, the whole department would have reported them.

I find it hard to judge the police or people in the prison service in which I've worked for a while because of the dregs of society they have to deal with and most of their critics such as effete journos wouldn't last 5 minutes dealing with those people.

Okay I apologise I hadn't watched it to the end and yes you're right its horrendous. I

Sorry, but that’s bollocks. I’m a teacher and my best friend is a nurse, so I know what gallows humour/venting about the people in our care and their families looks like. With all due respect, I’ve never heard anyone I’ve ever worked with say the kind of things that these police officers were saying. And that’s just what they say… I watched the programme earlier today and the footage of them restraining that autistic 17 year old was shocking. Eight police officers and one stood on the bench above directing them, all to restrain one weedy kid for throwing a pillow!!! And then leaving him restrained on the floor for over two hours. Fucking barbaric.

I knew a Met officer- an acquaintance, not a friend- who used to openly laugh about using the panic alarm going off in the station as an excuse to get in there and give someone a kicking, just because he liked giving people a kicking who couldn’t fight back. Appalling.

The truth of the matter is that the job attracts racists, misogynists, bullies and thugs. Full stop and no excuses.

Is it legal to record private conversations not in the workplace? Seems like a violation of privacy laws. It's also reminiscent of phone hacking when journalists were eavesdropping on phone conversations and messages. I'm not sure if this flies.