http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/police-uturn-on-photographers-and-antiterror-laws-1834626.html

Good news!

Good news. It had gone way too far and sadly most folk don't know their rights.

Thanks for posting.
B

http://nppa.org/news_and_events/news/2009/12/arrest.html

Another example of how the media has turned everyone who points a camera towards a kid a pedophile. There are going to be so few good images of kids from this era. I think these people are judging others by what goes on in their own minds.

B

Yep. Helen Levitt might not rest well in peace...
http://images.artnet.com/artwork_images_138991_163502_helen-levitt.jpg
http://www.masters-of-photography.com/images/full/levitt/levitt_new_york.jpg

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/dec/11/snapshot-special-branch-terror-suspect

Nice 1.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/dec/15/italian-student-police-arrest-filming

This makes my blood boil.....

These schmucks don't deserve to live in a land of freedom and democracy.

Bob - I'm going to make it to the UK in the next 12 months and I am going to go and shoot FILM and you are welcome to join. I can bring a film body for you too!

Yes Richard, i think is best send all of them to a desert island, but then, maybe all is open to big explosions in city, that is good motifs for nice pictures, full of WOW factor :)

Hmm... lord of the flies with the bobbies.... would they even be able to survive on their own given the metal capacity on display in these reports?

lol

Richard, sometimes is very dificult to explain to ordinary citizens the "why" behind this problem, but ever more dificult to explain to ordinary citizen why so much people dies in 11/9 and why 11/9 happens.

This happenings in UK and the Terrorist Act already save many lifes and people ... another thing very dificult to explain to ordinary citizens, or maybe impossible at all because security mathers. Freedom pays it all, it´s true.

Sounds great Richard.
I'll look forwards to it.
Film seems a good idea at the moment as there's a ton of detritus on my sensor already.

Hah! He had the nerve to say she was cocky.

Re these little jumped up Johnnys, they are easy to deal with as are the Police.

Conversation goes......

'Have you any ID sir?'

Am I obliged to give you that information officer?

Err! Umm! No, but, err!

Then I'm free to go?

Err! Yes, No.

So you are detaining me then?

Er!

Please state your 'reasonable articulable suspicion' then (and it better be good as they are held to this)

If they can't or won't........

Then I'm free to go?

............................

Never give your name or any information at all.
If you get arrested, keep your mouth shut. You won't help yourself by speaking.
Sign nothing - don't enter into any contacts with them.

Eventually they will let you go.

Best advice on the web about this is the Antiterrorist........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkVe2-3eZ34

We get in trouble because we feel the need to justify ourselves and defend our rights.
As AT says, keep to lips tight together to stop the stupid words from falling out.

B

A presdient once said words to the effect of:

"Giving up some freedom for security is then security not worth having."

Or there abouts. I agree. I agree on safety. But if we behave like we are now. Then Bin Laden is sitting in his cave laughing and has done what he wanted to do. Cause us hassle and restrict our ways of lives.

I'd take the risk of dying any day over living in a society where I am told when and where and how to shit.

(Please excuse the hypocrisy of my statements given where I live - this is a philosophical statement)

Having been stopped by plain clothes police telling me that I was stopped because I was taking images of iconic buildings all morning I know first hand what its like. Its intimidating! And then to be asked do you understand why I have been stopped & then be told I was stopped because they knew I wasn't a terrorist smacks of a police state governed by paranoia. On another occasion I was stopped in a park to be told I was stopped because there are children in the park! My parting remark to the bobbies was simply that when they are gone I was free to take images of children unhindered they looked bemused! On both occasions I cooperated though on the 1st occasion was close to being taken to the local nick after I called the thug of a police officer in plain clothes a c&8%!

Unfortunately my style of shooting brings with it this risk. I am happy to be stopped if I am assisting in national security but I cannot help but think especially from my 1st experience that its a box ticking exercise. Imagine the number of people with a camera in London on any one day any one of them could be terrorists. If I were one though I would hardly walk around with a 1D MKIII & a 70-2000mm lens I would use a far less conspicuous machine but then I imagine the police will trump my argument every time. I can live with the risk because I know I am not doing anything wrong have nothing to hide & I sure as hell am not going to be uptight about it & I know my rights.

However I welcome the new candor from senior police officers but don't hold your breath it doesn't end here!

I think we should all keep a copy of the article from the Independent and show it to the overly eager police officer.

Hmm.. 1X flash mob?

;-)

Hah!

I was arrested today for 'taking pictures'. lol

Just spent about 8 hours down the nick.

See dedicated topic.

B