Freedom and Flash Mobs

[Ross Chambers]

http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/article/7401/

 

[Shaggysk8]

WOW! well it will not stop me, I have only ever had good things from the police in england I live in northampton and they seem like a nice bunch of people. I will carry on with out any worry

 

[Paul Jenkin]

I work in the City of London and, on any given day of the week, I'll have anything from an OM1 to a D700 in my bag and I will take photos of whatever the hell I like, so long as it's in a public place.

I have been stopped and questioned on numerous occasions, often around Liverpool Street station, to where and from where I commute every weekday. I have 'learned' and I accept that train stations, bus depots, etc. are not 'public' places and that if you want to photograph in those places, you have to obtain express permission.

However, as I understand it, the Police need a court order to stop you photographing in a public place or to confiscate any equipment.

The main problem seems to be the 'Plastic PCs' (Police Community Support Officers) that wander around being little more use than an ashtray on a motorbike. Maybe I've been unlucky but they are the ones who seem to want to exercise what little influence they feel they have as a result of dressing up a bit like a policeman.

The ones I've been unlucky enough to encounter have told me that what I'm doing is illegal, that I 'have' to delete my images (difficult if I'm using a film camera) and that they have the 'right' to see what photos I have taken (again, difficult if I'm using a film camera). All of this is absolute tosh. Challenge them. Push back and make them prove it. They are there because we citizens are the ones who pay their wages.

I detest and resent like being followed and harrassed by supposed authority figures who seem to have their own perverse agendas, and I will not be driven from my favourite hobby - especially when what I am doing is completely innocent and law-abiding.

Good luck to all who stand up against 'big brother' tactics.

 

[Struan Gray]

I'm fascinated that anti-terrorist legislation had not been extended to Derbyshire. Are the Derbyshire police so venal that even the Home Office won't trust them? Or is there nothing worth bombing there?

 

[Marco B]

The most interesting thing I read is:

"As many photographers have experienced, cameras – especially if they are professional-looking or are mounted on a tripod – are now often deemed ‘suspicious articles’."

Now how stupid could a terrorist be? Would a would-be terrorist really carry a huge conspicuous 1.5 kg professional camera with a canon of a F2.8 / 300 mm lens and a 5kg tripod to do his pre-bombing scouting???

Quite on the opposite: the police should probably be stopping anyone carrying a mobile phone in his hands while walking around vulnerable potential targets... They may, however, find themselves ending up arresting half of the population, including a big junk of the police force themselves...

In addition, the increased availability of high resolution 360 degrees panoramic pictures and detailed Google Earth maps, often even created on behalf of government agencies for maintenance or tourism purposes, and the large number of possibilities to find pictures of almost anything using search engines like Google, makes shooting pictures for terrorism planning purposes almost a complete joke...

Marco

 

[paul_c5x4]

Paul - This link might be of interest to you... and if/when you get stopped by Plod, ask for his ID card & make a note of his/her number. Once you've collected enough numbers file a complaint with the PCA

 

[arigram]

Police directive : "Shoot the photographers before they shoot you"

 

[Paul Jenkin]

Paul - This link might be of interest to you... and if/when you get stopped by Plod, ask for his ID card & make a note of his/her number. Once you've collected enough numbers file a complaint with the PCA

Thank you Paul.

There doesn't seem to be a consistent approach where railways are concerned. Liverpool Street, as one only two main-line stations in the City (Fenchurch Street being the other) is usually crawling with police and security who are on you like a flash (no pun intended) if you start snapping. However, if you go to the station admin office (on Platform 10 for anyone interested) they will give you a badge to wear - thus allowing you to shoot freely - so long as you tell them you aren't a pro.

As for not photographing CCTV cameras and security devices, they are all over the place. It's virtually impossible to take a shot without getting them in the frame. Mind you, as the earlier post said, even the dumbest terrorist wouldn't advertise the fact that they were recording where the security equipment is situate.

Sadly, the popular belief seems to be that photographers are either terrorists or perverts. We need to push back hard against this or risk losing our rights by default.