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No further police action against photographer from Folkestone who was arrested after covering demonstration at Napier Barracks

A press photographer from Folkestone who was arrested after taking pictures at a protest will face no further action.

Andy Aitchison, 46, was arrested last week after taking photographs of a protest at Napier Barracks when activists threw fake blood at the fences.

Photographer Andy Aitchison Picture: ©David Noble
Photographer Andy Aitchison Picture: ©David Noble

He was held in a cell for more than five hours and his sim card and phone was seized by officers.

Mr Aitchison, who has been covering demonstrations since 1995, said there were no police there during the protest, which lasted about a minute.

Later that afternoon - at about 3pm and after his pictures appeared in the local press, including Kent Online - one of his children told him there were five police officers standing outside.

"They came into the kitchen and said 'we are arresting you on suspicion of criminal damage'. If I had been sitting down I would have almost fallen off my chair, it was crazy.

"I showed my press card. I said 'this is ridiculous, I was doing my job.'"

He was taken to a police station where again he stressed during an interview that his pictures have been used by media outlets and he was paid for them.

He was released and placed on bail until February 22.

But today a spokesperson from the forcesaid:"On 28 January 2021 Kent Police officers arrested a 46-year-old man following reports of suspected criminal damage in the area of Napier Barracks. As part of enquiries into the criminal damage and to establish the full circumstances, CCTV footage has been examined and he has subsequently been released without charge."

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