Letter to Culture, Media and Sport Committee from the Gypsy Council

From the Gypsy Council

To the Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Dear Sirs

I feel that the Culture Select Committee should be aware that David Abraham was sent the email below back in Sept 2011.

David Abraham the CEO of C4 (and others) were sent the email to ask for their help and to inform them about the inappropriate filming and photography being done by Channel 4.

See below one of my emails, there were several emails to various people.

It was pointed out that it is inappropriate to film young girls near to public toilets as was their (C4) want.
Several girls asked me help them because they didn't want to be filmed or photographed by Firecracker or Channel 4.
The photographers and film crew wouldn't leave them alone.

Firecracker and Channel 4 have threatened at one point to take legal action against me because I opposed them filming and taking photographs.

Joseph G. Jones

Gypsy Council

______________________________________________________________
------------ Forwarded message ------------
From: Joseph G. Jones
Date: Sep 16, 2011
Subject: Attention: Yogesh Chauhan, David Abraham,

Attention: Yogesh Chauhan, David Abraham

Dear Sirs

Please help, I require your assistance.

I repeatedly told Firecracker Films that I do not wish to be filmed, and have asked them not to film me, around me or my associates.

As an officer of the Gypsy Council, I am often involved in sensitive issues relating to human rights, racism and discrimination.

Apart from anything else, I have a Human Right to privacy.

On the 13th September I wrote to Laurence Turnbull, Tina Flintoff and Jes Wilkins and informed them we were organising a press launch.
I wrote:
" We are having a press launch tomorrow at Dale Farm.
Your company and film crews are not invited."

In spite of that clear instruction Lucy (a Firecracker Camera person) and others came to the launch at Dale Farm and filmed.
They pointed their camera at me for several minutes, in a very provocative way.
Part of the time they seemed to be laughing and joking and trying to get a reaction from me.

Maybe that was part of their plan.
Of course, most people know that they often try to make people look stupid in their Programme "Big Fat Gypsy Wedding"

In the past I have had to tell them to stop filming underage girls without their parent's permission, and stop filming Gypsies and Travellers near a public toilets who did not want to be filmed. It was embarrassing.

Some of the people on Dale Farm have in the past, asked me to ask them to stop filming and leave them alone, and they refused to leave saying I wasn't a resident.
When the lady, who had asked me to ask them to leave came and asked them to leave in person, they (Lucy and co) still refused to leave.

I would also like to forward you my previous email to them which also contains other issues that need to be looked at.

Regards

Joseph G. Jones
Gypsy Council

* European Romani Union
* The Gypsy Council
* AGFE
* International Alliance of Inhabitants
* Bucks Floating Support