I tried to take photos near the airport today.

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jeffrobjent

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Jeff Robjent
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So today I finished work early and decided to go and take some snaps..

Went up near Bristol airport and decided to take some photos of the fields, very low fog so I thought it'd make for an interesting landscape.

Started to take a few photos from a gate, I had my headphones in so was oblivious to what was going on around me, turned around to find 2 armed coppers stood behind me :eek:

I nearly dropped my gear in shock!

One of them quizzed me, asked what I was doing (well I had a camera in my hand, obvious, no?) and what I was taking photos of, I told him and he replied with

'why would you be taking photos of a field?'

He definately had a bit of an attitude problem.

They were quite intense and gave me a *******ing, told me that in their eyes I could be a protestor scouting out the area, or even worse a terrorist doing recon! (But no chance could I just be someone who enjoyed taking photos)

When they said that I kinda thought they were joking so laughed and foolishly said

'Of course, I'm planning to blow up the runway' :lol:

Not impressed to say the least.

I apologised and admitted I'd never thought of it like that, yet they still seemed to be a bit arsey. Told me to pack up and move on, which I did.

I dunno, its a fair enough point I suppose but I think they went about it the wrong way.
 
Sorry but you were obviously looking for a site to install a covert ground to air missile system.;)
 
but if he was going to blow up an airport surely he wouldnt pick bristol?? :thinking::lol:
 
LOL! Just describing it as an airport is quite generous actually isn't it!
 
They would have taken you more seriously as a photographer if you had remembered your tripod :)

Or maybe not and mistaking your tripod as a launcher!
 
KIPAX said:
Sorry but waving a bit of paper about from some blokes website doesnt sound like it would hold much punch with these guys.. or anyone else to be perfectly honest..
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Paper vs guns, fair point maybe, but knowing your rights can't be a bad thing can it?
The pen is mightier than the sword.
 
One other thing, with the headphones on you wouldn't have been aware of anyone such as a mugger until possibly to late.

Wouldn't want to have your kit nicked would you?
 
POAH said:
I'd not have moved TBH
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Nor me.

I've been approached before and while I have been polite if I am within my rights I'm not willing to move on which I state firmly and politely.
 
I dunno, its a fair enough point I suppose but I think they went about it the wrong way.
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maybe you went about all the wrong way, given the recent runway invasion?

Of course, I'm planning to blow up the runway
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could have given them just the reason they need to take you in for questioning.
 
By the sounds of it they acted alright, remember it is their job, I imagine they were actually Counter Terrorism rather than beat bobbys who think they know it all, your answer could well have ended up with you in a cell.

Airports are sensitive areas and you obviously aroused suspicion - it really is a simple as that !
 
I was harrased by three policemen once at Gatwick airport. Accused of being a terrorist, a protester and worst of all a plane spotter and asked to leave. I was on my way to work in a staff only area of the airport with my pass around my neck (I work in ATC). They do not employ these people for their inteligence thats for sure.
 
Flipping this on it's head, could you imagine the uproar on here had it been an activist doing the self same thing and the officers ignored them.

Two days later, Bristol airport shut for three days due to invasions of the airfield by protestors.

It's a lose/lose for the coppers most of the time.
 
Then they should be patrolling the perimeter of EVERY airport 24 hours a day! You can step over the fence at Bournemouth and many other airports. You don't need keys to start an airliner! Security at an airport is a token gesture at best. Trust me I know.
 
I don't doubt you know more about airport security than me, but would you honestly prefer that police officers ignored everyone around airport perimeters, particularly given recent(ish) events?
 
Protestors and terrorists must be laughing their heads off at the ‘ Keystone Cops’ antics that masquerade as police intelligence and tactics these days.

Horse, bolted , shut and door came to mind when reading the Op’s post, with Sat Nav and Google earth is very easy to ‘reccie’ .most installations these days.
What self respecting member of Al-Qaeda would operate in this way .what is being described here is plain old bullying, I personally would have told then to sling their hook.
 
Holden Caulfield said:
Protestors and terrorists must be laughing their heads off at the ‘ Keystone Cops’ antics that masquerade as police intelligence and tactics these days.

Horse, bolted , shut and door came to mind when reading the Op’s post, with Sat Nav and Google earth is very easy to ‘reccie’ .most installations these days.
What self respecting member of Al-Qaeda would operate in this way .what is being described here is plain old bullying, I personally would have told then to sling their hook.
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And you would have been arrested. BTW there is mor than Al-Qaeda out there.
 
Holden Caulfield said:
Horse, bolted , shut and door came to mind when reading the Op’s post, with Sat Nav and Google earth is very easy to ‘reccie’ .most installations these days.
What self respecting member of Al-Qaeda would operate in this way .what is being described here is plain old bullying, I personally would have told then to sling their hook.
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So, (presuming you are a police officer for a moment) when seeing an individual loitering around the perimeter fence of an airport, with no clear interest, you'd happily ignore them and go and have a cuppa would you?
 
Waving a piece of paper in their faces and spouting on about photographers' rights would not have helped anyone.
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Yes it would, our rights are being erroded on a daily basis by an over bearing government and some sections of the police who think that the terrorism act allows Carte blanche attitudes to law abiding menbers of the public.

Benjamin Franklyn , who knew the true meaning of democracy famously said:-
“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety”

It is as true now as it was in the late 1700’s
 
Holden Caulfield said:
Yes it would, our rights are being erroded on a daily basis by an over bearing government and some sections of the police who think that the terrorism act allows Carte blanche attitudes to law abiding menbers of the public.

Benjamin Franklyn , who knew the true meaning of democracy famously said:-
“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety”

It is as true now as it was in the late 1700’s
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What a load of twaddle! It's about seeing the bigger picture! A little diplomacy goes a long way you know!
 
Simmotino said:
So, (presuming you are a police officer for a moment) when seeing an individual loitering around the perimeter fence of an airport, with no clear interest, you'd happily ignore them and go and have a cuppa would you?
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I'm sure a polite conversation would have been possible. There's nothing wrong with 'them' asking 'us' what we're up to but there is a way of doing it.

Jeff's off the cuff comment may have been out of place but he did think he was having a light hearted conversation and clearly meant it as a little joke.
 
So, (presuming you are a police officer for a moment) when seeing an individual loitering around the perimeter fence of an airport, with no clear interest, you'd happily ignore them and go and have a cuppa would you?
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The OP stated that he was taking photographs, so he was not as you say, having ‘no clear interest’.

As far as I am aware it is not against the law to stand on public land or to look through a fence no matter what it surrounds.

To answer your question had I been a Police officer and been suspicious. I would have approached the individual and perhaps reminded him of police interest in the area because of terrorism and protestors.

What I would not have done is acted like judge and jury and told a law abiding citizen to hop it.
 
What a load of twaddle! It's about seeing the bigger picture! A little diplomacy goes a long way you know!
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Dont patronise me, if you want a police state B****r off to Zimbabwe ;)
 
And you would have been arrested
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No I would not, this has happend to me and I have refused to back down, and made a complaint.
 
I think you will find most plane spotters and aviation photographers are welcomed at some bases and airports, hell they even have areas to persue the hobby.

You see the regulars are able to 'spot' something / or perhaps someone that does not fit, shouldn't be where they are, asking dodgy questions and report as necessary.

These people / photographers have a good relationship with the Police / Authorities and although maybe not encouraged 100% they do have the support.

I went to an Air Force base earlier in the year and was viewed with a certain suspicion from the regulars, I went to chat and luckily had some Low Fly still on a spare card - I was then welcomed.

Guys we are only hearing one side of the story here.
 
And the result of that complaint was ?????
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Being told by a senior officer that I was quite correct in my assertions, and I suspect 'words of advice' being given to officers Laurel and Hardy.

Freedom, use it or lose it......:thumbs:
 
dseered said:
Guys we are only hearing one side of the story here.
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Therein lies the problem.

It's the same every time something like this appears on the forums.

Civil liberties, freedom of speech, human rights, yadda yadda yadda.

The fact of the matter is, police are there to do a job. If they didn't we'd all be on here complaining about how useless they were.

Yes, some have a problem, but the 99% majority are trying to do their job. If we are polite, courteous, and helpful, it would be a lot easier for them to do, and a lot less of an inconvenience for us.

Quoting Benjamin Franklin and making stupid jokes about blowing up runways isn't helping anyone, least of all us.
 
Some of you on here really take the biscuit..............:lol:
 
Just show how daft some police are, quizzing you for taking photos near an airport, yet at Manchester Airport they have built a viewing area with raised platforms to make it easier to take photos with out the fence in the way.
 
Yeah my comment was a bit silly and I realised as soon as I said it - but as mentioned, I kinda thought they were playing along as they didnt sound very serious to begin with.

I wasnt even in viewing distance of the runway / terminal.

Frustrating as it could have been a great shot but I think I'd be tempting fate going back there.

And I have definately seen a few people taking photos of planes there. Maybe I just look like more of a likely lad being 19? :lol:
 
whiteflyer said:
Just show how daft some police are, quizzing you for taking photos near an airport, yet at Manchester Airport they have built a viewing area with raised platforms to make it easier to take photos with out the fence in the way.
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And of course make it easier to keep an eye on photographers, and ask anyone who is taking photographs from places other than the viewing area what they are up to.
Good security plan IMO. :thumbs:
 
Holden Caulfield said:
Dont patronise me, if you want a police state B****r off to Zimbabwe ;)
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I suggest you look up the word "Patronising"!! You haven't a clue what a police state is, trust me we are nowhere near one here. A little co-operation with the police and less sarcastsic and flippant remarks will go a long way to help people get along. Then there are people who start getting sarky and start jumping up and down about their rights every time a police officer asks a question, which is their job by the way. They then start shouting about police states when anyone defends the police.
 
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