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Police U-turn on photographers and anti-terror laws
http://www.x404.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=4749		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  timark_uk [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 9:45 am ]
Post subject:  Police U-turn on photographers and anti-terror laws
Quote:
There are very clear rules around how stop-and-search powers can be used. However, there are no powers prohibiting the taking of photographs, film or digital images in a public place. Therefore members of the public and press should not be prevented from doing so.
Independent Clicky
Halle-bloody-lujah.

Mark
Author:  Linux_User [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 9:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Police U-turn on photographers and anti-terror laws
The ACPO have been reminding ordinary coppers about this for ages. I suppose they're that sick of the public backlash they're going to start coming down on this behaviour very hard.
Author:  timark_uk [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 10:13 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Police U-turn on photographers and anti-terror laws
Linux_User wrote:
The ACPO have been reminding ordinary coppers about this for ages.
I know, but it's seemingly done no good. In fact I'd go as far to say it's gone in the reverse direction. There's been a few very high profile cases of professional photographer being stopped just recently.
It really is about time that the S44 abuse was reigned in.

Mark
Author:  Linux_User [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 10:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Police U-turn on photographers and anti-terror laws
timark_uk wrote:
Linux_User wrote:
The ACPO have been reminding ordinary coppers about this for ages.
I know, but it's seemingly done no good. In fact I'd go as far to say it's gone in the reverse direction. There's been a few very high profile cases of professional photographer being stopped just recently.
It really is about time that the S44 abuse was reigned in.

Mark


What really narks me about S.44 is that the public apparently have 'no right' to know where such areas are. If I ignore for the moment the ludicrous notion of people being subject to a law but somehow aren't allowed to know if it applies in their area, how are ordinary members of the public supposed to know if Police Officers are truly acting lawfully if they are using S.44 powers? If you don't know if the area is actually designated under S.44 or not, there is no way of knowing whether the PC is actually acting within his/her authority.

I recently wrote to my MP about this, and the response I got from the Home Office is appalling. They had no problem whatsoever with being in position where people ware subject to a law but are not allowed to know where such draconian powers can actually legally be used.
Author:  belchingmatt [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 11:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Police U-turn on photographers and anti-terror laws
Quote:
The message says: "Officers and community support officers are reminded that we should not be stopping and searching people for taking photos. Unnecessarily restricting photography, whether from the casual tourist or professional, is unacceptable."


I first read that as casual terrorist.
Author:  pcernie [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 12:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Police U-turn on photographers and anti-terror laws
belchingmatt wrote:
Quote:
The message says: "Officers and community support officers are reminded that we should not be stopping and searching people for taking photos. Unnecessarily restricting photography, whether from the casual tourist or professional, is unacceptable."


I first read that as casual terrorist.


Image

Very casual :lol:
Author:  JJW009 [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 12:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Police U-turn on photographers and anti-terror laws
Linux_User wrote:
They had no problem whatsoever with being in position where people ware subject to a law but are not allowed to know where such draconian powers can actually legally be used.

Ignorance is no defense in law.

Sadly there seem to be many examples of laws which are immoral, inconsistent and even contradictory.

Writing to your MP was the correct first course of action. If enough people do this, then the weight of public opinion becomes apparent. It's far more effective than voting in some poll.
Author:  Linux_User [ Sat Dec 05, 2009 1:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Police U-turn on photographers and anti-terror laws
JJW009 wrote:
Linux_User wrote:
They had no problem whatsoever with being in position where people ware subject to a law but are not allowed to know where such draconian powers can actually legally be used.

Ignorance is no defense in law.


Agreed - ordinarily - but taking it to the point where the public have no option but to be ignorant about the law is a step too far. You must then ask if that's fair and in the interests of justice.
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