A CAMPAIGNING photographer has been left unable to work after police arrested him and confiscated his equipment as he was covering a protest near Rishi Sunak’s Yorkshire home.

For more than 25 years, London-based freelance photojournalist Guy Smallman has covered political and social issues in Britain and overseas, including wars in Afghanistan and Lebanon.

On Tuesday last week, he was covering a “theatrical” protest by campaign group Youth Demand near Mr Sunak’s mansion near Richmond, North Yorkshire.

Police arrested the three protesters and Mr Smallman for “aggravated trespass.”

He said that he was on a public footpath when he was arrested, adding that he had produced his press card and told the officers that he was working.

Mr Smallman refused to give police his mobile phone passcode and his equipment, worth £14,000, was confiscated for use as evidence. 

“They [said] that this decision will next be reviewed in mid-September, effectively preventing me from working until then,” he said.

“In a democracy, journalists act on tip-offs from sources. 

“That’s true whether it is a senior political correspondent getting info from a Cabinet minister or someone like me photographing civil disobedience.

“In both cases, we are observers rather than participants. We should be allowed to do our jobs without the police deciding what journalism should and should not be.”

The National Union of Journalists has taken up Mr Smallman’s case and an online appeal seeking funds for second-hand equipment, with a target of £4,500, has been set up.

The replacement equipment, along with any excess money raised, will be donated to Palestinian journalists working in “the most extreme and difficult circumstances” in Gaza and the West Bank, supporters said. 

To donate, visit gofundmeguysmallman.