NN Journalist threatened with arrest over disgraced councillor investigation
We’ve since had an apology after a surreal police encounter, plus a round up of some of what’s been happening in Northants
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A bit of an unusual article today, as reporter never wants to become the story, but what happened this week has to be reported, due to the overstepping by Northants Police of its powers.
NN Journal’s Sarah Ward was visited at her home this week and threatened with arrest if she contacted former councillor and disgraced police officer Matt Binley again.
Just after 1pm on Tuesday, a police constable from Northants Police visited the journalist’s Northants home and said that following a complaint from the former North Northamptonshire councillor, the officer considered there had been harassment and she was not to contact Matt Binley.
NN Journal, along with other local news outlets and Private Eye, had reported in February the former councillor’s expulsion from the local Tory party after admitting to sex with a 14 year old at a group meeting attended by about 40 other councillors. He is no longer a councillor after deciding not to stand for re-election in May.
Then leader of North Northamptonshire Council, Cllr Jason Smithers had reported the matter to the police and we then published an article detailing the full details of what Binley had admitted to and explaining why Northants Police were taking no further action. (Read the article here).
During the course of our reporting, NN Journal had contacted Matt Binley on each occasion before publication of a story, as is our legal duty. This is done by responsible journalists to give the person being written about a ‘right to reply’.
On the fourth occasion when we emailed Matt Binley, regarding an article about a petition that had been launched against him, we received an email from him to say we were not to contact him again and if we did so he would make a police complaint of harassment.
We sent a short reply to say our reporting did not amount to harassment.
Nothing else has been reported and NN Journal has not contacted Matt Binley since. He made an initial complaint in February which was closed and he contacted the police again this month. *
Sarah Ward said:
“When the police officer arrived at the door and said it was about Matt Binley, I assumed he wanted to interview myself to gather evidence, but it quickly became clear that Matt Binley was being considered as the victim and I was the alleged perpetrator.
“Despite declaring that I was a local reporter and had contacted him in the course of my work, as I have the legal right to do, I was told by the PC that he considered my actions to be harassment and that if I contacted Matt Binley again, I could face arrest or prosecution.
“In many years of reporting locally I have never experienced anything like it and regard this as an over stretch of police powers. We have a free press in this country and I have always stayed within the law during my reporting.
“I will be making a complaint and want to ensure nothing is on my file.
“And I will of course continue to contact any person who is the subject of a public interest investigation, including Matt Binley if necessary.”
After contacting the police force’s media office, Sarah Ward was called by assistant chief constable Adam Ward, who said the incident should not have happened.
He apologised and said that the officer had taken the wrong course of action and that training would be given. When asked what would happen if contact was made again with Matt Binley, ACC Ward said it would be fine to do so if it was in the course of an investigation.
David Banks, who is the media law advisor to the Independent Community News Network, of which NN Journal is a member, said:
“Northamptonshire Police are right to apologise for the way Sarah was treated over this matter. She was conducting normal journalistic inquiries and nothing she did came remotely close to what could be described as harassment - especially given that the last contact she had with the complainant was in February.
"Having a police officer turn up at your door can have a chilling effect on legitimate journalism and the police need to give very careful consideration to the consequences for freedom of speech and the role a free press plays. I am pleased to hear that training will be given throughout Northamptonshire Police and I hope it will help avoid a situation like this arising again. This is not the only instance of this happening to reporters simply doing their job and I hope other police forces take note."
Matt Binley has requested not to be contacted, but if he or a representative wishes to make a comment, NN Journal would be happy to hear from them.
*This additional detail was added after publication.
News in brief
West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has said action is underway to take legal and planning steps to close asylum hotels in its area, after a recent landmark High Court ruling in Epping.
This comes after Conservative politicians in West Northamptonshire called for an urgent meeting over the use of asylum hotels in the area.
WNC said it is reviewing the evidence it holds to prepare a robust case against the use of the three hotels in its area being used by the Home Office for asylum accommodation.
This move comes in the wake of Tory-run Epping Forest Council winning an injunction to prevent the Bell Hotel from being used to house asylum seekers, on Tuesday (August 19). The unitary authority has stated that it is important that the Council has strong evidence similar the case to ensure the chances of its success, given the significant future cost of this to its local taxpayers.
The issue has led to a political row with Reform UK’s leader Mark Arnull accusing Tory group leader Dan Lister of having a ‘selective memory.
He said:
“It was his party that championed the policy of housing asylum seekers in hotels. Now, he’s making clueless, dangerous statements in a pathetic attempt to play politics.
“We are actively looking at how the council can respond to asylum hotels in West Northamptonshire and taking legal advice to ensure any action we do take is watertight.
“By trying to force the matter now, Councillor Lister risks endangering the chances of closing these hotels. We want to see a permanent solution to the problem, not a lacklustre temporary fix.”
Deanshanger Independent Cllr Ian McCord said the Conservatives’ calls were “a bit rich”. He claimed he had raised the planning arguments about the asylum hotel in his ward with the previous Tory administration and felt the council should’ve taken action at the time, making them “equally culpable” in his view.
Jonathan Harris, group leader of the Liberal Democrats, expressed his concerns about some political groups’ active campaigns to force the closure of asylum hotels “without any productive or practical alternatives being put forward”.
He said:
“The safety of all people within our communities is imperative. Reform UK and the Conservatives appear to be trying to use this sensitive issue as political capital and at a time when what we need are calm level heads.”
The leader of the West Northants Labour Group, Sally Keeble, commented that the ‘top priority’ at the moment must be public well-being and safety for all.
“Everyone agrees that the use of hotels to accommodate asylum seekers is unsustainable and should end,” she said.
“The disagreements are over how quickly this should be achieved, and where the asylum seekers should be rehoused.
“There is no benefit from a race to the bottom by political parties urging precipitative closure of the hotels. This is divisive, irresponsible and could have unintended consequences that would make the situation worse.”
By Nadia Lincoln, local democracy reporter
Race hate tweeter Lucy Connolly has been released from prison this week.
Connolly, 42, served ten months of her 31 month sentence after having pleaded guilty in September to posting a tweet on social media platform X calling for ‘mass deportation’ now and calling on followers to ‘set fire’ to hotels housing asylum seekers.
She will remain on licence for the rest of her sentence.
The childminder, who is married to Northampton town councillor Ray Connolly, is expected to make a significant sum, after being championed in right wing quarters as a free speech martyr.
A council has further delayed making a decision on plans for a biogas plant in rural Northamptonshire, despite outcries from neighbours who claimed they had already “suffered over three years of life-changing uncertainty” from the project.
Developers Acorn Bioenergy Ltd returned to West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) with a new application for an energy facility near Evenley, after their previous proposals for the same location were rejected in 2023.
Officers advised planning members to approve the new plans at a meeting on Tuesday (August 19), but councillors decided they needed more information before they issued an approval or rejection.
Jon Williams, who lives at Barleymow Farm, which neighbours the development, said: “My family and neighbours have suffered over three years of life-changing uncertainty from this green-washing, explodable factory built meters from our homes.
“The thought of this being next to us is terrifying.”
The development would put feedstock, made up of straw, maize, grass and poultry and dairy manure, in anaerobic digestors to create biogas. Once transformed on site into biomethane, it would be removed by tanker for injection into the National Grid.
The latest plans received 306 letters of objection raising concerns about traffic, the loss of countryside and potential smells from the process.
Cathy Ellis, chair of Evenley Parish Council, said the altered application “makes a mockery” of the council’s previous refusal decision. She said that not enough had changed in the facility’s size and dominance in the landscape to justify its approval.
The plans have also received backing in the area, with 176 letters of support submitted alongside the application.
Local farmer Andrew Thompson said the facility would help generate a steady income for local farms through the sale of crops for the feedstock, as well as benefitting from a natural fertiliser produced in the digestion process, which would be sent back out.
He told members that diversification of farmland was essential for them to stay afloat and asked them to support the scheme to “back British farming”.
Speaking on behalf of Acorn, Daniel Lambert, told the meeting that the biogas plant would generate enough energy to heat more than 8,000 households, whilst also providing local farmers with a guaranteed income for the 25 years it would be in operation.
“This is a time when British farmers need our help. We can deliver all these benefits while making sure there is no unacceptable impact on nearby communities,” he said.
After hearing representations from multiple local residents, farmers, councillors and MPs, the planning committee voted to delay their decision.
Members asked to visit a biogas plant that is already in operation- to see first hand the effect it has on neighbouring communities- and further clarity on health and safety concerns before the plans will come back to another planning meeting.
By Nadia Lincoln
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It seems that the so-called "establishment " in the UK do not wish to be confronted with the truth. It is a shamful abuse and waste of Public finances. These incidents are occuring far to often and need nipped in the bud.
Well that’s one way to try to shut NN Journal up isn’t it! Glad you got a full apology and training will be given. Sex with a 14 year old is statutory rape of a child 😡. THATS the story here