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There was an article in today’s Independent about photographers being harassed by Police when taking pictures in a public place under something called Section 44. For a more detailed explanation, please read the article:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/warning-do-not-take-this-picture-1833127.html

However in simple terms, a “Section 44” is in fact an area deemed to be a potential terrorist target so all Main Line Railway Stations, Airports and so on could reasonably be expected to be “Section 44 Zones” however, the Government will not admit where these zones are “because it might help terrorists”. In such a zone, the Police have the right to “Stop and Search” anyone they deem to be acting suspiciously, from this some “Plods” have decided that taking pictures is “suspicious” – wrong !

Policing is by Consent Only

Unfortunately and it has come about under this awful Labour Government, true likely just because they were in power during 9/11 and 7/7, but they have completely lost the plot over Policing which in this Country is strictly “by consent”. Wrongly applying Section 44 and other such petty activities will change this and not for the better, Senior Police Officers should be ensuring that even PCOs are aware that they cannot prevent or confiscate pictures taken by ordinary members of the public and neither can they delete pictures, that requires a Court Order.

Real policing is not anything like a TV drama, the vast majority of crimes get “solved” not by “Forensics” – far too expensive, but quite simply by “information received” which means members of the public bringing forward information that leads to an arrest and possibly a conviction.

A Photographic Project

A Londoner by birth, I currently live in Somerset, also a keen amateur photographer and am planning, a task that will take up to a year to complete, a “photographic essay” of my personal London from childhood through to when I left some five and a half years ago. This will cover great swathes of the City, this sprawling collection of villages but would certainly include my most favourite view (s) of the River from Waterloo Bridge.

Although I never thought much of the idea originally, I have become a great fan of the London Eye and although the capsules can produce distortions, perhaps it is the greatest photographic platform in London that must overlook Lord knows how many Section 44 places. What is Mr Pathetic Plod doing about that then ? As to planning a terrorist attack, haven’t the Home Office and Scotland Yard heard or seen Google Earth, so much beloved of the Militias in Iraq when they wanted to mortar a Military Base ?

Personally, I have no problem if asked by a Policeman or woman, to show them my picture driving licence and for them to record the details if, I happen to be in a Section 44 area and taking pictures but beyond that, I will go about my lawful business without interference from them and yet another useless Home Secretary.

Know Your Rights

It is sad to think that you can no longer expect the Police to respect your rights but this is the state we are now in. This is reproduced from the Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/stop-amp-search-amp-photos-know-your-rights-1833327.html

• If police stop and search you, the first thing you should ask is on what grounds they are conducting the search and under what powers.
• Police are able to conduct searches under a number of different pieces of legislation but they usually use either the Public Order Act, the Criminal Justice Act or under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
• Unless you are stopped while driving a car, you do NOT have to give your name or address.
• Police officers are obliged to ask for your given ethnicity. Once again, it is up to you whether you choose to answer or not.
• If police use Section 44 of the Terrorism Act they are entitled to view any images you have taken but they are NOT allowed to delete them. They can only do so with a court order.
• Under Section 58a of the Terrorism Act, police are only allowed to stop a photographer taking pictures of officers if they reasonably suspect the photos are intended to be used in connection with terrorism.
• Whether you are stopped and searched, or merely stopped and accounted for, the police officer should hand you a record of your stop.

Finally

There is a campaign called “I’m a photographer not a terrorist” where although not quite hot of the press, has some interesting other views: http://photographernotaterrorist.org/

Also, this is not the first time I’ve come across this type of stupidity, checkout on this blog: http://baldysblog.co.uk/2009/03/19/verging-on-the-ridiculous/