Union slams ‘unethical behaviour’ ofwoman

A WOMAN who was fined after taking photographs of hospital corridors and claimed to be a journalist has been rubbished by a union chief.

Covid denier Hannah Dean was fined £200 by Hampshire Constabulary after she went to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham and took photographs of corridors, claiming that the hospital was empty.

On her Facebook profile, she has claimed to be a freelance journalist and that she worked for the National Union of Journalists (NUJ).

But the NUJ’s assistant general secretary, Seamus Dooley, says these claims are unfounded.

He said: ‘Hannah Dean has no connection with the National Union of Journalists. The information on her website is incorrect and I have written to Ms Dean asking her to correct this misinformation.

‘The activities engaged in by Ms Dean could not be classified as journalism and have clearly caused great upset to workers already serving in the public in the most challenging of circumstances.’

Mr Dooley added that he has also asked Facebook to remove her claims of working for the NUJ, but has not received the response.

Taking photographs in hospitals is a violation of clause eight of the IPSO Editor’s Code of Practice.

Journalists must identify themselves and obtain permission before entering hospitals or other institutions to pursue enquiries.

‘Ms Dean does not work at the NUJ and should be forced to delete her false claim,’ Mr Dooley said.

‘As assistant general secretary I can only say that there is no place in journalism for her type of unethical behaviour.’