EXCLUSIVE

A journalism student covering the anti-government cuts demonstration has told how he was arrested and spent 24 hours in a police cell.

Jason West was reporting on the riots that overshadowed Saturday's trade union protest as part of his degree at the University of Kent's Medway campus.

The 38-year-old joined professional journalists in interviewing activists who took over Fortnum and Mason in London's Piccadilly.

But when police removed up to 1,000 protesters from the luxury store four hours later, he could not prove he was simply an observer.

With no Press card, Mr West was arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass and kept in custody at Charing Cross police station until 6pm on Sunday.

He was released on bail until Tuesday pending inquiries. If charged and convicted, the maximum sentence is six months in prison.

Mr West, a second-year journalism student at the Chatham Maritime site, said: "I started in Westminster interviewing people on the march. It was a real carnival atmosphere.

"I was passing Fortnum and Mason when the protesters were gathering. My news sense kicked in and I followed the story."

He interviewed campaigners and customers in the store with recording equipment for an audio assignment.

Mr West, who lives in Basildon, Essex, added: "I was a peaceful sit-down protest downstairs. The police cordoned off upstairs, where people were climbing out of windows and spraying graffiti.

"I honestly didn't know what was going on outside until I saw a smoke bomb.

"When the police told everyone to leave I was first out, but the only ID I had was my uni card - which says I'm a social sciences student."

Mr West was arrested, along with 200 other people. Of those, 138 were charged with aggravated trespass and 11 with various other charges.

Mr West was one of seven people bailed pending inquiries.

Prof Tim Luckhurst, head of the Centre for Journalism, said: "Covering protests of any kind is notoriously difficult for journalists.

"It is important they should always be able to identify themselves and not place themselves in any situation where their role could be questioned."