That's what police have told City of London security guards to do.
Without going off on a swearathon all I can really say is that this makes me angry. >8+<
Guardian clicky

Mark

Am I right in thinking that it's just London based police that are being this ridiculous? I don't recall seeing any stories from outside of the capital.

It would appear not. I think the majority of the higher profile cases are in London and so they get the most press coverage.

Mark

Don't worry, Jon. We suffer from several levels of advanced muppetry in Kent Police as well.

Anyone got a link to that photographer's rights document that Ed posted some while back (might even have been on the other place). I'm in London at the end of the month and intend on wielding my (well the Wench's) camera with impunity.

Thankfully - and I really do mean this sincerely - I haven't seen or heard of any Belfast/Northern Ireland reports concerning stops and searches of photographers.
There was none of this nonsense in Bruges. As a photographer, and I don't think this applies to just professional ones, it applies to anyone with a camera, it really makes me want to evaluate where I take pictures, and that's not a good state of affairs for a country to put potential visitors - let alone it's own residents - in.
It undermines any trust anyone might otherwise have had in any of the authorities that are ostensibly in place to protect.
I understand why the anti-terror laws exist, I just don't agree with the way they are being adopted by PC Plod.

Mark

http://www.sirimo.co.uk/2009/05/14/uk-photographers-rights-v2/

Mark

I understand where you're coming from, Mark, and it does worry me, too.

That said, Best Beloved and I spent a good hour walking around Maidstone the other day. I spent quite some time pointing a compact camera at various buildings and vistas. Hardly anyone around me took the slightest notice, and while I was aware that a couple of police vehicles went past me, I didn't feel they were taking more than a passing interest in me.

One thing I am always aware of when out is reactions of people to me. If I feel someone is uncomfortable with me and my gear, I make it obvious with body language that I'm not trying to be a threat to them. Sometimes, just lowering the camera and smiling is enough to avoid any problems.

(It also helps I don't particularly like people in many of my shots. )

I'm also aware of where I am, in case I'm likely to be inadvertently on private property. If I'm at all dubious about my rights in such circumstances, I move on. I'm planning a trip to the area around London City Airport. As part of the prep for that, I'm going to write to the airport authorities to let them know I'll be around and what I'm doing. I don't envisage being on their property at all, but no doubt I will be picked up by CCTV, and I don't want them to waste time sending some uninformed uniform out to investigate me.

So far, I've not had any problems with authority in any way.

No, neither have I, but the continued reporting of people that have and do have problems with the authorities doesn't make me feel confident about going out with my camera in London anymore.
I never had that feeling before the last two times I was there.

We shouldn't have to seek permission to take photographs when in a public place. That's not what being public is about. Like you I'm always aware of where I am and what I'm doing but now I have to be aware that regardless of any vigilance on my own part I could still get stopped and searched.
Christ knows what'll happen if that ever happens and I tell them I'm from Northern Ireland.
It really is a sorry state of affairs.

Mark

"I'm not being funny, and I mean no disrespect..."

"I took it back didn't I?!"

Mark

I think it’s going to cause a shift in methodology. I’ve not taken a big camera into London for a long time. I’ve preferred to compacts in. I tend to set the aperture etc. in advance and take shots in a more immediate/tourist way. Gone are the days of lugging a DSLR + lens collection around.

Others are using busses as a platform for photography.

tbh though, how many terrorists are going to use several grands worth of pro DSLR kit to take recon photos? They're more likely to use an easily concealable point and shoot cheapie.

Absolutely. However, this nugget of common sense intelligence seems to have bypassed Her Majesty's constabulary, and the various jumped-up power-crazed herberts with peaked caps and attitude that pass for "security".

+1

People get twitchy with DSLRs about - I think they see them as “pro” equipment instead of the kind of gear that a keen hobbyist would have.

Anyway, terrorists can do their planning using Google Street View now. A big US company has done all the photographic recon work they need.