UK: Home Secretary green lights restrictions on photography

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Just a heads-up for shooters in the UK, you now only have the right to take photos if the local policeman decides you do. Instead of enforcing existing laws, they have given every policeman the right to interpret laws as they wish and enforce them as they choose.

'It is for the local Chief Constable, in the case of your letter the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Force, to decide how his or her Officers and employees should best balance the rights to freedom of the press, freedom of expression and the need for public protection.'

From the British Journal of Photography
http://www.bjp-online.com/public/sho...ml?page=801977

[jayhawk]

Sad, but I think the ones who will get in trouble will be nuisances to authorites anyway, and make a big deal out of a situation. I doubt that it will be rigidly enforced.

Or in other words, be polite and ask if in doubt!

[IceBone]

I really dread the day when local authorities get a whif of all this bullcrap and decide it's a good idea. Until then, i can thankfully say i live in a free country.

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Originally Posted by jayhawk

Sad, but I think the ones who will get in trouble will be nuisances to authorites anyway, and make a big deal out of a situation. I doubt that it will be rigidly enforced.

Really? How about the photographer that was arrested for taking landscape photos in Yosemite National Park because he "looked professional?" The UK is really just following the US's lead on dealing with photography as some sort of shady activity.

[Cobol74]

There is the Metropolitan Police Act (aka the breathing act) which gives the Met (London) more extensive powers than in the rest of the country. The commissioner, Sir Ian Blair is supposed to report directly to the Home Secretary.

I'd sack him actually, he has not dealt with the main communications issue which was highlighted at the Kings Cross fire and he has had well long enough. They keep cutting the training budgets and they try to replace Policemen with, er. uniformed numptys who are good for nothing except being wallies. Actually, the old special constables were better.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King%27s_Cross_fire

What really staggers me is the way that the powers that be have totally missed what the people view as important and are concentration upon Politically Correct rubbish and minor misdemeanours instead of tackling the real criminals. This is just another example of the bollocks.

[IceBone]

So he looked like a professional photographer?

[epp_b]

Sad, but I think the ones who will get in trouble will be nuisances to authorites anyway, and make a big deal out of a situation. I doubt that it will be rigidly enforced.

Or in other words, be polite and ask if in doubt!

That's beside the point. The public has a right to take a picture of anything in public view (with some exceptions for famous people and landmarks).

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Originally Posted by IceBone

So he looked like a professional photographer?

Apparently shooting with an old view camera makes you an instant professional these days.

[IceBone]

So being a professional photographer is a crime these days? Or what kind of professional are we talking about?

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Photographing in Yosemite professionally requires a permit. Since the park rangers assumed he was a professional because they figured he looked like one and had been "standing in the same spot for hours", they asked if he had a permit. Since he wasn't shooting professionally, he didn't have one. Since he didn't have one and asked why he needed one, they arrested him and confiscated his equipment.

[jayhawk]

Originally Posted by BerserkerCatSplat

Really? How about the photographer that was arrested for taking landscape photos in Yosemite National Park because he "looked professional?" The UK is really just following
the US's lead on dealing with photography as some sort of shady activity.

EDIT: You explained the story while I was typing.

My point is, I have never had a problem with authority figures and breaking laws when I present myself as honest, polite and forthright.

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Originally Posted by jayhawk

EDIT: You explained the story while I was typing.

My point is, I have never had a problem with authority figures and breaking laws when I present myself as honest, polite and forthright.

You edited while I was quoting, haha.

The point isn't that being honest is a bad idea, far from it. The point is that many police officers and security guards have a problem understanding our rights and should never, ever be given the leeway to interpret them. The courts interpret the laws, the police force enforces them. When the police are given the power to interpret based on no evidence at all, the system is broken.

[Cobol74]

Well said Jay, but you would be surprised at some people's idea of doing their job - we have a name for them "Jobs worths" from the phrase "Its more than my jobs worth to let you. ..." take a picture here. For instance. Ho hum.

/EDIT OK BCS I agree too.

[jayhawk]

Originally Posted by BerserkerCatSplat

The point isn't that being honest is a bad idea, far from it. The point is that many police officers and security guards have a problem understanding our rights and should never, ever be given the leeway to interpret them. The courts interpret the laws, the police force enforces them. When the police are given the power to interpret based on no evidence at all, the system is broken.

Good point.

[anti-net]

<-- How angry this current Government makes me feel, they have no respect for the people of this country, there just a bunch of delusional idiots who are power hungry. Instead of "BRITAIN: FUCK YEAH" its more "BRITAIN: FUCKED!"

[amadeus]

I'm so glad I don't live in the UK

Local bobbies here that aren't quite as jumpy as the London lot, and we still have real special constables - none of these "Community Support" police reject idiots. And if any of our great elected (ok, half of them are elected - the other half is old boys club) representatives do anything funny, then we know where they live - local island for local people, you know...

Might be of interest:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7351252.stm

Video of community support retards in action:

http://current.com/items/88856223_yo...t_picture_this

Welcome to the police state - now where's that Hitler smilie gone?

[thedguy]

[Dr_Q]

This is actually no different that it has been anyway. There are no legal restrictions (so you aren't do anything illegal) but if they have reason to do so Chief Constables can stop you doing Photography. It's stupid and I in no way agree but to be honest voters put this piss poor Government where they are today so we have ourselves to blame (I was 1 year too young to vote at the last election).