A JOURNALIST is taking legal action against the police over them refusing him entry to a Labour Party conference after labelling him “a left-wing extremist”.

Michael Segalov, who is news editor at Huck Magazine and writes for national newspapers, believes the police undermined press freedom by denying him entry to the conference in Brighton last September.

Mr Segalov, a former University of Sussex student, has launched a legal challenge against both Sussex and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) over the decision to stop him attending the event.

Mr Segalov said: “It is a really important case for press freedom and also trying to understand the basis under which police are keeping tabs on the work journalists are doing.

“It is our job to witness and report on what is going on.

“What does it mean for me attending other conferences in future?

“Am I expected to change the work I do?

“If this was done openly then I think we could have avoided this process.

“It is horrible to be labelled an extremist.

“My political views are mainstream and my actions are peaceful.”

Police refused to approve his accreditation application to attend the event, which he had sent off months in advance, over concerns he did not meet the security check requirements.

He later discovered that police had labelled him as a “known extreme activist” who had been involved in many protests.

Although Mr Segalov has no criminal record, police claimed their intelligence suggested he was willing to take part in direct action.

Police said he met activists who put bugs inside a burger restaurant ahead of a protest against the deportation of immigrants in 2016.

Mr Segalov denies being part of the protest group as he was there to report on the demonstration after receiving a tip-off.

He said he was also refused accreditation for the event due to him being involved in a protest while he was at university in Brighton five years ago.

The university apologised to the 24-year-old and paid out £20,000 after falsely claiming he had engaged in criminal behaviour during the protest.

He is challenging both forces as GMP are in charge of national press accreditation and Sussex Police were present at the event.

Mr Segalov added: “What sort of database the police have worries me.

“If they told me at the time that was the basis of not letting me in, I would have fought my case then.

“It is worrying that police are trying to punish people for this.”

A decision on whether the case can go to a judicial review against both police forces is expected to be made at a High Court hearing tomorrow.

Mr Segalov will also be seeking financial reimbursement for not being able to carry out his work at last year’s conference.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “We can confirm Mr Segalov has made an application to the High Court for a judicial review against Sussex Police and this application is being contested.

“It would not be appropriate for us to comment further at this stage due to the ongoing proceedings.”