Title updated.
This thread has gotten a few reports as political. We generally allow political discussions that relate narrowly to photography, like discussions of permission to photograph in public spaces or the regulation of photographic chemicals. This is partially relevant, because it has to do with the way that some landscape photographers work, partially not.
If the thread can stay on topic which isn’t irrelevant to landscape photography and if it remains civilized, then it can stay. If it turns into a brawl about universal rights, then it’s headed for The Soapbox.
I had intended in posting this in a lounge sub-forum , but for some reason couldn't find it !
So I though the U.K regions forum was the next most relevant place , and I'm quite surprised it's even been seen by non U.K members .
It's not meant to be political as the intention of the new law is to allow the police to deal with groups of people ( such as protesters ) that are breaking the current law , and I would support that as they are preventing people going about their lawful business on private land , farmers grazing livestock etc.
The problem the police have is that trespass is dealt with under Civil law , not Criminal law . So a land owner has to go threw a court to allow the police or others to remove them from their property . It gets quite complicated and expensive .
The new law which would put things in the hands of the police is badly written . As it is intended cover any form of trespassing on private land , but it is written in such away that it makes it illegal to sleep in your vehicle on public land , whereas it is currently perfectly legal and should remain so .
It doesn't just effect landscape photographers or other outdoor type people but long distance lorry drivers as well .
Drivers that are on the road for weeks at a time often park up in laybys overnight , as the country doesn't have truck stop type places set up for them to park up on . They'll also fall fowl of the new law and risk losing their livelihood's.
Also the title is now wrong on a couple of points .
In parts of the U.K ( England and Wales ) roadside camping is already illegal ( it has been as long as I've known ).
You cannot sleep in a vehicle on the public highway anyway .
In Scotland this is permitted .
I've no idea on what the law is in Northern Ireland .
But this law only effects England and Wales , not the whole of the U.K ..
Secondly the law to be introduced is intended specifically to allow the police to remove people that are trespassing on private land , for whatever reason , following a complaint from the landowner .
So I don't object to that either . Land owners have rights too !
The police would have the power to seize vehicles for up to three months , prosecute and imprison you if you don't move on when requested , or if your a group pretesting , pack up and clear off !
But because it is badly written , it effectively means even if you are not trespassing and you are on public land or common land ( land given to the people by the previous land owner ) the new law would mean you are breaking the law and could be arrested and lose your vehicle . Even though you have a legal right to be there .
The petition is to get the government to review the proposed bill and to amend it so it still achieves what it is intended to do , but not criminalise thousands of people that live on the road either permanently or temporary and take their property .