Verboten
I’ve just had this article from the BBC pop up.
Frankly, this sort of despicable behaviour from security personnel is on the increase and will soon lead to real problems for urban photographers. It follows this campaign blogged by Lor and pretty much highlights the paranoia creeping into this society.
I know several people, including Billy, who have been questioned and/or stopped from photographing public buildings in the capital and it’s getting to the point where one feels pretty conspicuous carrying a big old Crumpler around town.
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April 17th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Ha, you beat me to it: I just saw it and wanted to post about it as well.
Good thing though that MP Austin Mitchell is trying to do something about it: “Austin Mitchell MP has tabled a motion in the Commons that has drawn on cross-party support from 150 other MPs, calling on the Home Office and the police to educate officers about photographers’ rights.”
April 17th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
A couple of weeks ago, I was stopped in Ealing by two policemen and one of them said ‘Is that a Leica IIIf?’. That’s pretty good going for a 60 year old camera! I thought I’d get a bit of sympathy but they still asked me to stop. It’s a bit worrying if the level of ‘detective’ work is to go for the obvious photographer, while there are vast numbers of camera phones out on every street.
April 18th, 2008 at 3:47 am
Yeah I got similar at Canary Wharf a few weeks ago. But I think they may have been right there - according to the signs on the road bridge Canary Wharf is private property.. Either way it was enough to spoil the mornings shooting for me.
@Paul - did you challenge what they were saying (no shame in it), or put them straight?
April 18th, 2008 at 7:08 am
Well I was on shopping centre property, and the photo I had just taken was lousy, so I just smiled and tried to find out what cameras the cop had of his own! I had a previous run in where I told the policeman I had the right to take any photo I wanted (I had just taken a shot at arms length with the camera right in front of his face - oops) and explained that street photography was an artform and that lots of famous photographs wouldn’t exist if the today’s paranoia had existed then.
Interestingly, in television work, both the BBC and C4 lawyers told us we have the right to keep a continuous visual and audio record of own lives and to use that as the basis to always keep filming, so I had my BBC head on when I was arguing the toss - which made it a bit easier somehow. That cop took my name under the prevention of terrorism act.
What I also find worrying is that there are increasing numbers of people now working in ’security’ based jobs, from shops to CCTV to traffic wardens, who just follow their orders and seem to not question what it is they’re doing and, over time, have less and less idea of what this thing ‘freedom’ is.
It’s a great way to stop large chunks of the population thinking; give them the flattery of a job with ‘authority’ and make sure they learn your rules.
Sorry I’ll get off my soapbox haha.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:17 am
He took your name under the Prevention of Terrorism Act??! For crying out loud! I’ve never said this before and will probably hate myself for doing it now but why can’t these people be catching real criminals instead of persecuting people trying to enjoy something outside of “work”. What’s next? Stopping joggers for wearing down the pavement?
I tell you what, I’d like to see some police action on people that stand next to ‘It Is Illegal To Smoke In This Area’ puffing away and making my entry/exit to and from work or other public places disgusting.
Thanks Paul, here’s your soapbox back;)
April 18th, 2008 at 11:52 am
As this seems to be becoming more prevalent, I thought I’d see if I could find some online guidelines. Unfortunately, the link that seemed most relevant (one to the Home Office) was broken, so, while at the HO’s website I thought I’d drop them a message (via http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/contactus) asking for further information about the guidelines as they stand. I will let you know if they reply.
Obviously, if you feel the need, you may want to write to them too, there are phone numbers and snail mail addresses on that page too.
April 18th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
@Rich: yes the terrorism act is the whole reason of this stop-and-search policy. Due to changes after 9/11 (and 7/7) the police have the ‘right’ to stop anyone in the street.
Next thing you know they’re gonna carry out controlled explosions on any bulky looking Crumpler bags…
April 18th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Insane! Thanks for posting this Rich. You guys may want to also check out this: Photographers Protest Over Police Harassment.
@ Neil - Do let us know what you hear. It would be very interesting.
April 25th, 2008 at 9:27 am
I was also stopped by the police last week, for taking shots at the entrance of Liverpool Street station. After I’d been questioned I got a shot of the officer and posted the picture on my photoblog (direct link to it by clicking on my name above)
May 7th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Just had to post this Flickr Group:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/met_poster/pool/
May 8th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Thanks for the link Neil. I laughed like a drain
May 8th, 2008 at 11:43 am
And since I have time on my hands today, I also unearthed this http://www.boingboing.net/2008/03/05/remixing-the-london.html.