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UK photographers: the law and your rights: discussion

More photography laws?

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Fucking hell. This thread gets more depressing all the time. I thought things were generally more sensible in Britain. You should be leaving the silly stuff to the Yanks.

When i lived in England, i had a few encounters with the old bill (mainly traffic stops), and every one of them was a friendly, helpful, and reasonably sensible-seeming bloke. Are they all now power-hungry cocks? I can't believe some of the ridiculous shit they're pulling on photographers over there.
 
And Jess Hurd, a press photographer is taking action against the Met for being stopped and having images forcibly viewed despite showing her press card
Despite National Guidelines regarding press cards and also the fact that journalistic material has special status, She was apparently told "We can do anything under the terrorism act" ..... She had been asked to cover a wedding reception at a hotel in Docklands

(Now I notice that the linked article is dated 11/12/2009 but refers to something that happened on 10/12/2008)

Camera forcibly taken
Ms Hurd’s camera was forcibly taken from her by the officer, despite her protests that there were safeguards in place to ensure a free press. The officer’s response was: “We can do anything under the terrorism act”.

Footage viewed
A third officer took the camera and watched footage with a further officer who was still in the police car, some distance from Ms Hurd. She was fearful that her entire days work could be wiped and was by now feeling intimidated, as she was in a dark car park being questioned in an intimidating way by police officers.
Told by police there would be ‘severe penalties’ if she used the footage, and that the police own the copyright
Ms Hurd was informed that she could not use any footage of the police car or police officers and that if she did there would be ‘severe penalties’, although these were not specified.

http://www.bindmans.com/index.php?id=672
 
The incident with Jess Hurd was in fact in 2008. Here is a report from AP dated 15th December 2008.

It is possible that the police picked her up because she is known for doing work for Socialist Worker and therefore considered a risk to our so-called Democracy.

I guess it has taken this long for the complaint to be considered. It will be interesting to see the results.
 
Hocus Eye. said:
The incident with Jess Hurd was in fact in 2008. Here is a report from AP dated 15th December 2008.

It is possible that the police picked her up because she is known for doing work for Socialist Worker and therefore considered a risk to our so-called Democracy.
Click to expand...
Aha - ok - so She's only just made an official complaint then and started tweeting about it this morning. Ta :)

And yep - makes one wonder/suspect an agenda
 
Hocus Eye. said:
I guess it has taken this long for the complaint to be considered. It will be interesting to see the results.
Click to expand...
Mmm... My guess would be a "there's guidance re-issued blah blah" but as shown in the last week or so - it wouldn't seem to have made any difference
 
I've started to update my section on Photographers rights, but it's moving so fast and so many dodgy stories are breaking that I'm having to expand it in all directions!
 
This is a bit specific, but re. railway photography, where some people have had a lot of hassle from BTP and station staff/security, Virgin Trains have just issued some very sensible new guidelines. They don't seem to be online but there's a photo of one of the posters here. Good for Virgin, say I. :cool:

That story that dlx1 links to is strangely encouraging, in that it's indicative of how wide a cross-section of the population is now concerned about how civil liberties are being eroded.
 
ffs you should be able to talk to somebody using a camera in public with out becoming a fucking nazi about it :facepalm:
If I can manage to restrain my self from twatting a frankly bonkers twitcher.
(Spotted near the end of an airfield in cyprus during the first gulf war wearing camoflauge gear and carrying massive optics) took ages to actually get to the bloke.
you can even make a joke about it "sorry sir we've been told to check on anyone taking photos boss has got a sad on about it"etc
99.9% of stops are going to be completely harmless anyway so giving it the big I am is completelty counterproductive.
 
dlx1 said:


Is there bullet point A5 can print out. That I or other could show if
got hassle here my right to take photos
Click to expand...

Erm... listen to detective-boy. There's no stronger guarantee of grief from plod than announcing "I know my rights".

The probability of grief is inversely related to individual plod's feeling of security in their authority - hence to rank; this is why pseudoplod, having negative rank, are especially prone to causing grief.

Chat. Be matey. Give a convincing impression of recognising the constable as human. Negotiate, giving a convincing impression of dealing as equals.
 
Chat. Be matey. Give a convincing impression of recognising the constable as human. Negotiate, giving a convincing impression of dealing as equals.
Click to expand...

I use to work for the police I met all kinds, some think as shit, Some with no computer skills (need training) most I found alight.

I was thinking of the wannabe police (security)

sim667
A Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) may not
perform a s44 search without a police officer present.
Click to expand...
:D
 
laptop said:
Erm... listen to detective-boy. There's no stronger guarantee of grief from plod than announcing "I know my rights".
Click to expand...
That's no reason you shouldn't know them.

The probability of grief is inversely related to individual plod's feeling of security in their authority - hence to rank; this is why pseudoplod, having negative rank, are especially prone to causing grief.
Click to expand...
Oddly with the TSG it seems to work the opposite way.
 
laptop said:
Erm... listen to detective-boy. There's no stronger guarantee of grief from plod than announcing "I know my rights".

The probability of grief is inversely related to individual plod's feeling of security in their authority - hence to rank; this is why pseudoplod, having negative rank, are especially prone to causing grief.

Chat. Be matey. Give a convincing impression of recognising the constable as human. Negotiate, giving a convincing impression of dealing as equals.
Click to expand...

Well DB does tend to know how police tend to think generally......as he's seen it from their point of view....

What does seem to get skipped over very if is the understanding that the police are meant to 'serve and protect'...... harassing people people going about their daily lives for taking a photograph is doing neither, plus they're also paid for by our taxes, we essentially pay their wages.
 
Photograph graffiti too often, get an ASBO:

Judge Reddihough, sentencing, said: “I have seen a number of examples of the graffiti. It may well be that some sort of graffiti could come into the class of a work of art.” But he said the businesses tagged did not consider the images to be works of art. “It would have been distressing,” Judge Reddihough continued. After the hearing Matthews declined to comment.

Dave Bowler, prolific priority offenders’ scheme manager for the police and ex-ASBO co-ordinator, said: “In September 2006, a large scale investigation into graffiti tags appearing in Reading was commenced involving staff from Reading Borough Council, Reading Police and British Transport Police.

“Part of the investigation included the large scale ‘tagging’ of the rooftops within Reading town centre. These investigations led to the eventual arrest of persons involved in these activities and Mr Matthews’s appearance at Reading Crown Court. Mr Matthews has had an anti-social behaviour order imposed on him for a period of two years, following his own admissions that he had been present as a trespasser on roof tops and railway property when others had carried out graffiti attacks and he had photographed their so called ‘art’. This should serve as a warning to those other like-minded individuals who believe that they can display their ‘art’ on other people’s property. The removal of graffiti causes great expense to the council each year and ultimately the local taxpayers foot the bill. Reading Borough Council and Reading Police will not tolerate such behaviour and identified offenders will be brought to justice at every opportunity.”
Click to expand...

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2063307_asbo_for_photographer_who_snapped_grafitti_art
 
THE CAMPAIGN group "I’m a Photographer, Not a Terrorist!" invite all Photographers to a mass photo gathering in defence of street photography.

Gather at 12 noon on Saturday 23rd January 2010 in Trafalgar Square.
Click to expand...

Has anyone heard of another event called for the 20th? Some lack of timing here...
 
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