made a prat of myself

kevshore said:
Andrew, it's probably best not to include statements like this when complaining about police behaviour mate.
It only makes you look like you are using the situation to do a bit of police bashing. I'm sure you're not, but that's how it looks.
It's easy to complain about our police force when they inconvenience us, but on the whole they do a cracking job and they in my opinion do a thankless job.
We are happy to call for their help when we need it. I'm not a police officer mate, but maybe just a little older and wiser.
Not slating you for what you have said, but maybe worth taking a deep breathe sometimes and counting to 10. ;)


Kev.
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In hindsight, i was a prat, (out of character), thank you. I do appreciate and respect the law.
 
Metal God said:
You're "...phoning my solicitor in the morning".

Why exactly? What loss/damage have you incurred and do you have money to burn in legal fees? Personally I would get over it and move on.
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I'v moved on already :bonk:
 
Thanks to all who have replied, lesson learnt. I won't put myself in that kind of situation again, but if i do happen to find myself in it again, i will handle it with thought rather than rage. Thanks guys, i'm embarrassed at my behaviour last night :(
 
I find the old cliche, treat others as you would like to be treated, is pretty accurate.

No one knows what sort of night the bouncers and police had prior to meeting you. I can guess as it's a Friday, they had already met a load of gobby kids. I suspect that your behaviour was the icing on the cake for them!

Andy
 
To be honest, the op sounds like a tool (no offence!!) reading everything hes subsequently posted. Whilst I had sympathy to start with, with the security guard threatening him, he went downhill with the childish and pathetic rant he went in to.

Probably deserved to be arrested.

Hope you don't waste too much money with your solicitor, there's nothing they can do.
 
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My problem wouldnt have been with the police but he fact you and your property were threatened by a security guard, you threatened because he would have had to use force to get the camera off you, did the plice say anything to the guard??
 
Pointblank said:
Thanks to all who have replied, lesson learnt. I won't put myself in that kind of situation again, but if i do happen to find myself in it again, i will handle it with thought rather than rage. Thanks guys, i'm embarrassed at my behaviour last night :(
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We all go a little bit mental every now and then, main thing is that you learn from it so your better equiped if a similar situation happens again. :thumbs:
 
odd jim said:
To be honest, the op sounds like a tool (no offence!!) reading everything hes subsequently posted. Whilst I had sympathy to start with, with the security guard threatening him, he went downhill with the childish and pathetic rant he went in to.

Probably deserved to be arrested.

Hope you don't waste too much money with your solicitor, there's nothing they can do.
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Maybe you should also read the bit where the OP apologises and agrees he sounded like a prat, even changing the thread title as such.
Yes we was acting like a tool in the heat of the moment, but in the light of day, he calmed down, realised and apologised.
Seems fair enough to me.
 
odd jim said:
To be honest, the op sounds like a tool (no offence!!) reading everything hes subsequently posted. Whilst I had sympathy to start with, with the security guard threatening him, he went downhill with the childish and pathetic rant he went in to.

Probably deserved to be arrested.

Hope you don't waste too much money with your solicitor, there's nothing they can do.
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This is the bit where you read the entire thread :)
 
Lol ok my bad, apologies to the OP and the way I worded my post before reading the last page!

The point I tried and failed to get across is that if you act a bit toolish at the time of the incident, with the police etc, your bound to be treated as such. Those scenarios need a cool head.
 
I think the issue people are missing is the OP rang the police because he was threatened with violence, the police turned up and then wrongly told the OP he needed permission to photograph people, nothing about the security guard, it appears they were not too bothered about that.
I would assume the OP solictor would be about A reporting the police to the PCC for not dealing with the original complaint, and possibly trying to get the police to follow out on the security guard before he actually hurts someone.
 
Pointblank said:
Thank you ever so much to take the time to explain how and what i should and shouldn't have done, much appreciated :thumbs:
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Been there before, probably done the same or similar but learnt from it, same as you have this time. Next time you'll be better prepared :)
If you google photographers rights, there's a handy PDF to print out and keep in your camera bag. I'd give you the link but on my phone at moment.
 
Pointblank - we've all made prat's of ourselves at some stage or other.

At least you're big enough to laugh at what happened, learn from it and move on.

Better luck next time on your night shoots.
 
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Once AGAIN, thanks for being understanding about my "rant", no need for insults as that only makes you look a bit of a prat. i thank you.
 
Hi PB, big cojones to say you've dropped one. I think you were sound until you had your kerfuffle with the polis. You were only doing something perfectly legal after all.
 
swanseamale47 said:
I think the issue people are missing is the OP rang the police because he was threatened with violence, the police turned up and then wrongly told the OP he needed permission to photograph people, nothing about the security guard, it appears they were not too bothered about that.
I would assume the OP solictor would be about A reporting the police to the PCC for not dealing with the original complaint, and possibly trying to get the police to follow out on the security guard before he actually hurts someone.
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Well said. The security guard should have been cautioned for threatening the OP, and as for the Police Officers' complete lack of understanding of the law - they do need to be put straight on that. The PCC will refer the complaint back to the station in question where it will be dealt with internally and it's very unlikely the officers will be found 'in the wrong'. If the OP got their cards, I'd be inclined to e-mail the officers (very politely, copying in relevant superiors) explaining the law as it relates to photography in public, and backing everything up appropriately. I do think the Police should at least apologise when they're totally wrong, though I think that's farfetched.

There have been many campaigns by photographers on this subject, it's disappointing that the police are still not educated in this area, and even more disappointing when so many of them use the subject for the simple pleasure of throwing their weight around. To me, that's not acceptable, yet we have one respondent in this thread accusing the OP of 'police bashing' when the OP is simply voicing a legitimate complaint.

I know a couple of police officers socially and whenever this kind of thing is raised, I've laid the appropriate legal information before them. They still insist that it's against the law to take pictures (in public, or anywhere) without the consent of the owners of cars, buildings, objects, and other personnel in the frame. I'm not sure where that leaves our tourism industry ....
 
If felt it appropriate to come back to this thread and say fair play to Andrew for admitting his mistake in handling this situation...It shows true character to admit when you have been wrong :thumbs:

Matt
MWHCVT
 
Musicman said:
Potentially, they could have nicked you for obstruction if you persisted as you're fairly obviously using a tripod from the pic you posted.

What they actually said twaddle, though.
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I'd love to see a custody sergeants face if you told him that was the reason for an arrest! :gag:
 
MWHCVT said:
If felt it appropriate to come back to this thread and say fair play to Andrew for admitting his mistake in handling this situation...It shows true character to admit when you have been wrong :thumbs:
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In what way was the OP wrong? Wrong for expecting the police to deal with the threats of a 'security guard', or wrong for the OP to expect the Police to understand the law? In the light of that, I find it amazing that he's been accused of rudeness towards the officers, who were clearly unable or unwilling to fulfil the duties for which they've been employed, at public expense.

I agree with Byker's earlier post that it's always best to avoid potential trouble, but nevertheless we have every right to stand up for ourselves.
 
To be honest, with the security guard, I'd have told him I was breaking no laws, but as he was aggressive and threatening I'd move on to keep him happy (but I'd try and get a picture of him).
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I've had good working relationships with a lot of security, but I wouldn't, certainly assuming that if it was simply a case of the bouncer waddling up and saying 'you take a photo and I'll smash your camera on the floor', I would have immediately called the police in front of him, that's threatening personal property. And I'm not a big guy...

Pretty much every story of 'arrests' or 'police intimidation' is where photographers have been tools, caught up in a 'it's happening to me' moment after reading all the indignant blog posts on the subject :P So while you may have been a tool, you weren't the first and won't be the last :)
 
odd jim said:
To be honest, the op sounds like a tool (no offence!!) reading everything hes subsequently posted. Whilst I had sympathy to start with, with the security guard threatening him, he went downhill with the childish and pathetic rant he went in to.

Probably deserved to be arrested.

Hope you don't waste too much money with your solicitor, there's nothing they can do.
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I agree with this!
Sounds like you just gone over the top with it all, I'd of just thought.. So what I'll go somewhere else! No big deal.
 
friesianfan69 said:
I agree with this!
Sounds like you just gone over the top with it all, I'd of just thought.. So what I'll go somewhere else! No big deal.
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Have you read the thread:thinking: I say good on the OP for his honesty!
 
Pointblank said:
Thanks to all who have replied, lesson learnt. I won't put myself in that kind of situation again, but if i do happen to find myself in it again, i will handle it with thought rather than rage. Thanks guys, i'm embarrassed at my behaviour last night :(
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You deserve recognition for performing a very difficult act :thumbs: Well dne you :cool:
 
I have some sympathy for the OP. He called the police as he had been threatened by the destruction of his property which would no doubt have resulted in personal assault. The police not knowing the law have tried to separate and diffuse the situation by moving him on. They failed to address the intended assault and damage to personal property. Therefore he was frustrated and angry. He lost the argument when he turned on the coppers though. He was never going to get satisfaction after that point. That's a lesson for us all in the same situation.
 
itsdavedotnet said:
I've had good working relationships with a lot of security, but I wouldn't, certainly assuming that if it was simply a case of the bouncer waddling up and saying 'you take a photo and I'll smash your camera on the floor', I would have immediately called the police in front of him, that's threatening personal property. And I'm not a big guy...

Pretty much every story of 'arrests' or 'police intimidation' is where photographers have been tools, caught up in a 'it's happening to me' moment after reading all the indignant blog posts on the subject :P So while you may have been a tool, you weren't the first and won't be the last :)
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I think your right, and I think the OP had a choice to move on or call the police when it first kicked off. I would probably have called the police if I was on my own time, moved on if I didn't need the shot or the hassle if I was busy. The problem with letting security get away with this kind of behaviour is they think they are right. But sometimes you haven't got time and need to pick your battles.

I can see why he saw red when the police didn't address the threat from security, its difficult to remain calm in that situation but is exactly what's needed. Its a pity you didn't roll video with sound when security kicked off, I have a feeling if the police heard security threatening you they would have no choice but to act even if they didn't really want to. If they didn't they would have a lot of explaining to do after the fact.

These events shouldn't put people off from standing their ground if they feel they need to. It's very easy to say just walk away the shot isn't worth it. But next time it might be and that's not really the point anyway, that's like saying let the secret police take away my grandfather, he was getting old anyway. OK a bit extreme but I hope you get my point ;)
 
MWHCVT said:
If felt it appropriate to come back to this thread and say fair play to Andrew for admitting his mistake in handling this situation...It shows true character to admit when you have been wrong :thumbs:

Matt
MWHCVT
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thank you, I'm not out to upset anyone :thumbs:
 
Doog said:
I have some sympathy for the OP. He called the police as he had been threatened by the destruction of his property which would no doubt have resulted in personal assault. The police not knowing the law have tried to separate and diffuse the situation by moving him on. They failed to address the intended assault and damage to personal property. Therefore he was frustrated and angry. He lost the argument when he turned on the coppers though. He was never going to get satisfaction after that point. That's a lesson for us all in the same situation.
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Thank you and well said :clap:
 
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