Press photographers will unite in celebration on Sunday after the European Court of Human Rights upheld a ruling aimed at preventing police abusing stop and search powers.

The court rejected an appeal by the Home Office against a ruling in January which found it was unlawful for police to use section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 without any grounds for suspicion.

The landmark ruling found in favour of Kevin Gillan and Pennie Quinton, photographers stopped by police on their way to a demonstration in 2003.

A 'flashmob' organised by the I'm a Photographer Not a Terrorist campaign will take place at midday on Sunday outside New Scotland Yard to celebrate the ruling and call on the Government to repeal section 44 of the act.

Jess Hurd, chair of the NUJ London Photographers' Branch and co-founder of I'm a Photographer Not a Terrorist campaign, said the group wanted to mark the victory.

"For street photographers the battle against the misuse of the terrorism laws has been frustrating and at times absurd," she told Journalism.co.uk.

"The abuse of these laws has united amateur and professional in defence of press freedom and civil liberties. We will not be intimidated by these unjust laws that pick on innocent citizens, and criminalise photographers. Penny Quinton and Kevin Gillan's victory against s44 in the European Court of Human Rights has been a long struggle for justice, achieved with the support of the NUJ and a committed legal team.

"It is a major success that should be celebrated across society."

In January, the I'm a Photographer, Not a Terrorist campaign organised a gathering in Trafalgar Square that drew in more than 2,000 photographers.

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