I am a new member of this Forum and this topic may have been raised several times before. But I was only recently made aware recently of a Public Petition in the office of the Prime Minister entitled "Stop Proposed Restrictions Regarding Photography in Public Places".
The precis of the petition says, "There are a number of moves promoting the requirement of 'ID' cards to allow photographers to operate in a public place.
It is a fundamental right of a UK citizen to use a camera in a public place, indeed there is no right to privacy when in a public place.
These moves have developed from paranoia and only promote suspicion towards genuine people following their hobby or profession."
The petition can be viewed and added to by accessing
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/
Hope I'm not going over old ground.