Kent Police has admitted it was wrong to film journalists during last year’s Climate Camp in Hoo.

A report in The Guardian revealed officers captured members of the press on camera as part of their surveillance of the week-long protest against Kingsnorth Power Station.

Footage obtained by The Guardian shows officers filming protesters as they are searched at the entrance to the camp, noting down items of clothing or other distinctive features.

It also shows the cameras being zoomed in on journalists reporting at the camp.

An officer is heard saying; “A lot of press officers aren’t there. Just think they can wander in and out of the field. It’s wrong I think. I trust them less than the protesters.”

Allyn Thomas, Assistant Chief Constable of Kent Police, has now admitted officers should not have filmed legitimate journalists or cameras crews.

He said: “Kent Police fully accept the right to protest as part of our democracy. However in this case a number of protesters had made clear their intention to shut down Kingsnorth Power station and invited others to join them in this aim.

"This would have been a criminal act with a widespread impact.

"As part of our operation overt filming of protesters was carried out as a means of identifying anyone who subsequently attempted to break into the power station.

“The situation on the ground was complex with more than one thousand protesters, together with journalists and camera crews, in a confined area.

"We accept that police should not have filmed legitimate journalists or camera crews, however it was a difficult task in these circumstances to clearly identify them.

“There was an issue with a failure of some officers to identify the guarantees provided by the ACPO registered NUJ card.

"We acted on this and have incorporated training about this issue in our guidance for future operations.”

• See the story on www.guardian.co.uk here.