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Having been a photographer for around 30 years, I am getting concerned that police and the 5 per hour security 'jobsworths' are exceeding or misusing their authority under the catch all of terrorism.
Just what on earth is happening?
The restrictions and hassle being imposed for no valid reason I can see, are greater than at the height of the IRA terror attacks.
In the past few weeks, I have been told that photography at railway stations "is banned".
It isn't - photographers are still welcome. I've been threatened with the transport police - I did wait once for 30 mins after I insisted they were called but they never came - and once asked to hand over my memory card! No one has that right.
There was a heated conversation with a security man after I took pictures from a public road of a new building under construction. I was told I "needed permission as the building was copyright".
In Birmingham city centre, I was hassled in an agressive manner by two security staff for taking pictures. I refused to stop, police were called, and when I challenged young PC under what law I could not take pictures, he could not answer me, and after some debate he agreed I had done nothing wrong. When finally asked for ID, I produced a press card, and the apologies flowed profusley! But it was too late.
There is a danger that in 20-30 years time there will be no photographs of street scenes, public buildings, everyday life because common sense is not being applied. Someone told me this week a photographer had been apprehended under the Prevention of Terrorism act for taking a picture of a shop in a High Street, and Labour MP Austin Mitchell had aggrevation at the party conference.
I have recently visited Holland, Germany, Ireland, Hungary and Switzerland and had no problems at all.
So why Britain? Are those in authority paranoid? Our rights and freedoms are being eroded and it seems no one is fighting it.
Has anyone also had similar problems and would they be prepared to share details with a view to a magazine article? You can remain anonymous if needed. Email me at hotpix@btinternet.com with details.
Also does anyone know to what extent Human Rights Legislation can be applied to photography - such as Freedom of Expression. No one can give me a definite answer.
Thanks
WIllie
Whoever is telling them as they are being incorrectly briefed.
Yes, they'd be more useful at home on benefits. Or do you earn 6 an hour in the security businesss?
I have an NUJ card - does it make a difference? Shame you have nothing useful to contribute.
The key issue is why people are having their photographic freedom eroded under what appear to be insignificant or nonsense reasons. No one is banning camera phones and they up to 2mp now.
Perhaps you should write into Amateur Photographer - they have a long running series of letters about this very topic.....
Mike
LOL!
Last month I had a blast bomb, a pipe bomb and was finally shot at and the police did F all.
Then again I rarely have a problem, press card round my neck at all times. Have had one problem once but that was with a non cooperative police officer at a bomb alert, and that was for info rather than stopping me taking photos.
Have been in a number of hostile, riotous situations and press card was usually enough to sort anything out through a quick id check.
Other than that - not a lot really.
Have had the odd enquiry from teachers when standing near a school with a camera and one request not to take pictures at the airport without first oking it with management.
Nothing major, but I dont live in GB.
[quote]Shame you have nothing useful to contribute.[/qoute]
Please explain
Geoff
willie2cameras i share your sentiments, i tried taking shots in london and was confronted in a similar manner by security guards. they use the terrorism excuse on literally everything these days. what i cant understand is... if i were a terrorist, surely i'd try to work covertly by not carrying around a big manfrotto tripod and camera bag!
from my personal experience, i've drawn the conclusion that they dont like photographers because they dont want anyone making money out of their property. nothing more nothing less. i was stopped at the london eye by security guards, i was first told photography is not permitted there because it was private property and i needed permission, then apparantly my tripod was a health and safety risk some one may trip over it - you got to be blind to trip over a 5.5 foot tripod. then i was told its a security threat - as if my tripod and camera is likely to explode spontaneously. these excuses came from one guard whne i challenged him about why i couldnt take shots along the southbank from hungerford bridge to westminster bridge. its ok to take shots without a tripod because you're considered a tourist. they just dont like tripods, apparantly that makes one a professional.
anyway who wants shots of the stupid london eye, its an ugly thing, im more interested in the view to parliament standing next to it. i hope county hall increase their rent next year and force them to shut down, get a taste of their own medicine hopefully.
Yes they are is my answer to the question.
Some 30 years ago I was questioned by the police when taking photographs of the local town centre on a quiet Sunday morning. This was during the IRA troubles and was understanable but since 9/11 things have got out of hand and beyond security. What isnt realised is that camera phones that you have mentioned can easily be used discreetly for dubious reasons.
Local historians rely on photographs of the past often taken by amateurs. It would be extremely difficult to prevent all photography although it often appears to be the case from your experiences. My own experieces and such as your own now make me aware of security, human rights and so on making my photography less pleasurable by having to think about such issues.
Right accross the board in writing, speaking and even comedy has seen restrictions imposed unthinkable 30 years ago, Comedy shows on TV made those years ago and freely repeated presently could never be made today. Sex though has grown beyond belief, but thats not a security issue. Photographing celebrities getting married or their children is a money issue.
Photographing buildings however humble or grand can be used for all kinds of purposes which is where suspicion lies.
The securuty at the recent Labour party conference sums it all up, many, not all, are just thugs with training that can only have lasted a few hours.
Ken
Quote: Shame you have nothing useful to contribute.
Shame you feel it nesecary to belittle people who may not earn as much as you or I.
Quote: Yes, they'd be more useful at home on benefits. Or do you earn 6 an hour in the security businesss?
And what if I did? If I did I'd be only to pleased to play with people like that all day if somebody told me to.
Remember the monkey sitting at the bottom of the tree just sees all the arseholes above.
The press card question was just out of interest, no need to stress.
It started as a result of the hysteria about a few white folk being killed, when many worthless blacks are dying as a result of capitalism. When countries go to war as a sop to the stupid on the basis of known mis-information.
Terrorism is the new form of diversion to keep the masses from thinking and discusing the matters of real importance in the world.
Britain joined the States for reasons best known to it's leaders so it's people suffer the consequences and when you consider the disruption to the lives of the masses it is quite plain that the few terrorists are winning hands down and gaining support daily as a result of the foolish actions of those running the Crusade against Evil.
But I thought this was a photographic discussion group ....
Proper highbrow discussion...... that should put the world to rights 
Wow this seams to have got you all worked up. I beat the cops by a simple way, When out i always have my camera backpack in it is a copy of the AOP handbook. When challenged by a cop or a clown dressed as a security gaurd i ask them to tell me the law. When they can't i read it word for word to them and making the point that i am on public ground, I love to see cops squirm when they have been beat and i always take a note of their num,ber and tell them i am reporting them for this (works everytime). Also someone here said they were told to hand over the memory card from the camera any one ordering you to do this is themselves breaking the law "GET THEM CHARGED."
Also i would like to say as many of you have pointed out about taking photos from camera phones. A camera phone is classed as a camera so any jumped up little hitler of a security gaurd or a cop should check all mobile phones for the images on them. NEWSFLASH Mr police officer in the bond film a bad guy uses a camera phone to sneek james bonds photo to find out who he is. He does not use a 600mm telephoto lens.
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