Photography and the terrorism law.

on a previous forum I was a bit nervous about posting a pic of the armed guards at the entrance to Menwith Hill entitled 'shooting menu' and one or two others. The moderator, a right wingish guy said no problem, there is so much stuff on the web about it you would be hard put to it to add anything new. Likewise DIY sheets for making nuclear weapons etc.

I think its a bit like weather forecasts getting much more dramatic in the week FOLLOWING floods.

Not that I like it any more. The real worry is becoming that if there is a public demand for arrests (as there was during the IRA bombing campaign), it will be far easier now to frame a scapegoat from random gleanings of the surveillance camera and bugging networks. They must produce more info than the entire population could process meaningfully working full time.

[Leif]

Originally Posted by blackmarlin

Leif do they take it that we are a country of terrorists or is it a question of forcing your will on all your subjects. What next town centres or just to be bloody minded, banning the use of cameras. don't forget they don't have to be in an airport to shoot down a plane. Ihave had it happen to me and it wasn't pleasant, all I am doing is passing on a warning. Please note there were no signs on the station saying "no cameras to be used in the station."

Alan

Alan: It is usually forbidden to take pictures in shopping malls and inside shops. The reason is commercial secrecy i.e. they do not want competitors analysing in detail the shop interior. So this might be along those lines. We just do not know. You could ask?

But to threaten to use the prevention of terrorism act on someone taking innocent pictures is IMO over the top, especially given the fact that signs are not apparent.

I have twice been stopped and questioned in Windsor Great Park. On one occasion my photo rucksack was searched (only a quick look inside). I was a bit taken aback because I walked around there often, and the only time I got searched was when I walked on a particular piece of grass, directly in front of a gate. They were polite and I guess they have to check people.

[miketoll]

As has been mentioned above all anyone has to do who wants a photo of a banned area is to have a ''conversation'' on a mobile held up to their ear and take shot after shot on the inbuilt wide angle 5mp camera and no one would be any the wiser. That's what is so annoying when the obvious enthusiast photographer is targeted because it's so easy while ignoring others.

[robski]

A couple of links you may want to look at

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/passen...nthusiasts.htm

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/777.aspx

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/1582.aspx

[Joe]

Much depends on whether we are conspiracy theorists, or just sensible.

In many countries just having a camera on display is enough to get a gun pointed at you.

[nigelblake]

http://www.sirimo.co.uk/media/UKPhotographersRights.pdf

This should also be of interest,
Also you cannot be forced to delete images or hand over film or memory cards by anyone other than a police officer with the appropriate court issued warrant.

Applies in the US too as in this PDF http://www.krages.com/ThePhotographersRight.pdf

[andy153]

[quote=blackmarlin;22063]I thought I would just tell you about a little happening I had today on Liverpool Lime Street station.

I had taken about a dozen pictures when I was approached by two security men who asked what I was doing. I told them I was just taking pictures of trains approaching the station. I was told to stop straight away and if I refused I could be arrested under the prevention of terrorism act.

As a retired Police Officer with Special Branch experience I would tell them where to go... A Security man has no powers of arrest or detention unless he has been sworn in as a special constable, in which case he should be able to show you his warrant card; and any such unlawful and unreasonable action on their part would be both an assault on you and actionable in law - you would be able to afford 2 or 3 Nikon D3's on the resulting damages. Call someone close by and explain what is happening and ask them to witness the Security Mens actions, then invite them to call a proper British Rail Police Officer and repeat their allegation. They should back off if they have half a brain. Try and make note as soon as possible of any identity badges or numbers they display and make a written complaint to Network Rail as soon as possible after and send a duplicate to your M.P.
Andy M.
Please note above that the Network Rail links refer to guide lines - unless otherwise stated they are not bye-laws. But it is sensible to see a member of staff and tell them what you are about. I have never had any trouble when I've asked a member of staff if they minded me taking a few pics for my own use.

[Fixer]

Thanks to all for the good advice just in case this ever happens to me.

Jim

[sassan]

Todays world is changed significantly. All I can add is that, though a lot of time the sequence of events may look totally comic and hilarious, things can go to the full fledge wrong direction in matter of fractions of second. In other world the boundaries are not well defined, lines not drawn. take two more pinch of salt and be ready to walk out of trouble with full compliance to authorities.

[robski]

A bit more info on the topic

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06...otography_law/