25/03/02 - Letter from Essex Police in reference to the removal of the Crime Scene Photos

Essex Police
PO Box 2,
Headquarters,
Springfield,
Chelmsford,
Essex
CM2 6DA

Telephone 01245 452603/5
Website www essex police uk
Facsimile 0124 545 2246

Dear Mr O'Mahoney

The Use of Essex Police Photographs on the Website

www.bernardomahoney.com / rrmurders/ photos

I write in relation to your use of Essex Police photographs in the above named website. The photographs origins are clearly identifiable from your site, le Essex Police. Members of the public, and the victims' families may wrongly conclude that Essex Police consented to and are involved in the release of the photographs to you and the displaying of them on your site.

This will damage the reputation of Essex Police and undermine public confidence and trust in the service. In addition, a large number of photographs you are displaying are of a graphic nature. They will clearly cause a great deal of alarm and distress to members of the public and, in particular, the friends and family of the deceased shown on your website.

They have a reasonable and lawful expectation of privacy and confidentiality that must be recognised. In light of the undoubted pain and suffering you are causing by displaying the photographs on your website and your infringement of the copyright owned by Essex Police, you are requested to remove all the photos taken from the Essex Police photograph bundle from your website immediately and by no later than three days from the date of this letter.

I would also point out an Essex Police employee took these photographs for the purposes of a criminal investigation into the murder of three persons in Rettendon, Essex in 1995. The copyright of those photographs is owned and retained by the Chief Constable of Essex Police.

Yours sincerely

Mick Thwaites
T/Assistant Cheif Constable
(Operations)