Metropolitan Police issue official guidance on the laws surrounding photography

So there are 2 cops going to arrest you for breach,what you going to do?.:shrug:

Can you prove you never swore at them?
 
Well the real world means there are cops out there that will just arrest you for breach of the peace if they are so enclined.
 
Well maybe where you are the locals will be alright,but at say demos or other big events where things get heated the police do get carried away,i have seen it happen.
 
DarrenToogood said:
If they asked me to stop photographing, I would simply say no. If they tried to enforce it, I would bring out the law card and tell them it is not illegal.
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The best thing to do in this case is ask them to call the station for clarification.


Steve.
 
Wow i have made my 1000th:)
 
Just like all things in life not all police are adverse to having there picture taken.

On Saturday I even had 3 police officers pose for me whilst I took a number of shots of them
 
Went on a trip from Wolverhampron to London 8th Sept before i even got out the station at Wolverhampton i was stopped by security for using my Camera.

When i got to the London Eye i was also stopped by security, i was told i could use the camera but not the tripod, i asked what harm am i doing and i was told it was to due with Heatlh and Safety.

Whats the country coming to :bang:
 
schrismonkey said:
would be interested to know if this is for all forces or just the MET. have looked on the GMP site nd cant fond anything. is the MET the governing body for all forces?
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I cannot find a reply that answers Chris's question so I thought I would post these links to see if they help:

http://www.epuk.org/Resources/819/acpo-police-media-guidelines

www.sirimo.co.uk/ukpr

So that leaves Scotland! Perhaps someone up there might like to ask them: see: www.acpos.police.uk

I can't find the media guide on ACPO's own site and it's noticeable that neither they nor ACPOS have a search function. Are they trying to hide something?

Just something to add to the pot ...

BobG
 
If they do decide to view the images on your camera. Are they allowed to handle your camera? I am sure there are many like plod who know what they are doing. But for those that do not.

Eric
 
scrag68 said:
Went on a trip from Wolverhampron to London 8th Sept before i even got out the station at Wolverhampton i was stopped by security for using my Camera.

When i got to the London Eye i was also stopped by security, i was told i could use the camera but not the tripod, i asked what harm am i doing and i was told it was to due with Heatlh and Safety.

Whats the country coming to :bang:
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I have no problem with this.

you were stopped by security on private land and in a "security sensitive" zone, not detained, threatened or mistreated

2ndly, at the london eye you are on private land also, and the company...british airways isn't it? are protecting themselves against morons tripping on your tripod and blaming them....
daft and stupid but blame litigation Britain, not the london eye

also the use of a tripod implies that you might be photographing commercially for stock photos etc perhaps? if such was the case you couldn't use the photographs of their property, taken from their property I think without their permission
in that sort of case they're just protecting themselves and hoping to make revenue or control what goes out regarding their structure.
but I could be wholly wrong here.

:wave:
 
Photo Plod said:
Yes, during a search, they are. Your camera is no different to any other object an officer may wish to search.
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makes sense to me.
I'd ask them to wear the neck strap and give them guidance on the controls if asked. I'm sure they have to take reasonable care of your kit.
 
I was stopped by a couple of PCO's today while taking pics in London. They were polite and didn't hassle me for long, looked at some of my pics, checked my details and went on their way.
One of the officers actually had a degree in Photography.
 
Hi, Just wanted to add my thanks for this extremely useful link which is now printed out and in my bag - I'm off to somerset in the am for half term break with the kids and I'll be photographing everything that moves this week. lol

Cheers
 
If this sort of thing is common in UK, thank goodness I live in New Zealand!
 
Thanks for posting the link, a good thing to keep in the camera bag!

Officers have the power to view digital images contained in mobile telephones or cameras carried by a person searched under S44 of the Terrorism Act 2000, provided that the viewing is to determine whether the images contained in the camera or mobile telephone are of a kind, which could be used in connection with terrorism. Officers also have the power to seize and retain any article found during the search which the officer reasonably suspects is intended to be used in connection with terrorism.
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I read the above with the thought, what is an image that can be used in connection with terrorism?
 
I have only just come across this post. Thank you for posting the police guidelines. The only time I have been approached to see what I was doing was by a railway employee and he was very polite.

As for Stew's experience,I dont think it is unreasonable for a neighbour to ask someone, taking a photograph of his neighbours home, what he is doing. A photographer could have been taking pictures to help plan a future break in.I am pleased to say that my neighbours keep an eye on my home for me.Even in a 23rd floor flat it is good if your neighbours keep an eye on your place. After all you would be glad if a neighbour questioned someone leaving a suspicious package by your door wouldnt you?
 
Interesting interview about this on BBC Radio 4 now.

Probably on listen again, but I've made a recording and will see what I can do, (legally - of course!)
 
amgard said:
Interesting interview about this on BBC Radio 4 now.

Probably on listen again, but I've made a recording and will see what I can do, (legally - of course!)
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Linky to the section is HERE ... :D ... just scroll down to the 0850 slot... :thumbs:


HTH... ;)





:p
 
Paper news is obviously way behind...
 
Not entirely on topic so feel free to move it if so....BUT... my recent experience of walking around London at 2am taking photo's was an extremely positive one.

No problem at all around St Paul's even when a police van drove past us slowly. I was parked on the pavement directly outside snapping shots of my car with st Paul's in the background.

Then moved on to the Royal Albert Hall and took some photo's of that. Walked around the side of it and there were about 5 metropolitan police cars parked up with the officers standing outside having a chat and a coffee. I just set up my tripod and snapped away in front of them with no issues at all.

My car was parked highly illegally on all occasions and I was taking photo's of sensitive buildings so would have at least expected a chat with an officer but I'm pleased to say that there were no issues at all. Being -5 degrees probably helped!
 
Milamber said:
Not entirely on topic so feel free to move it if so....BUT... my recent experience of walking around London at 2am taking photo's was an extremely positive one.

No problem at all around St Paul's even when a police van drove past us slowly. I was parked on the pavement directly outside snapping shots of my car with st Paul's in the background.

Then moved on to the Royal Albert Hall and took some photo's of that. Walked around the side of it and there were about 5 metropolitan police cars parked up with the officers standing outside having a chat and a coffee. I just set up my tripod and snapped away in front of them with no issues at all.

My car was parked highly illegally on all occasions and I was taking photo's of sensitive buildings so would have at least expected a chat with an officer but I'm pleased to say that there were no issues at all. Being -5 degrees probably helped!
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You can bet your life that all your details had been checked by them as they went past ;)

wilky
 
I have to say as a keen photographer for many years and an officer myself, a lot of bad press is generated by attitude (on both sides). If you see people taking pictures of land marks, public buildings with nice architecture, generally your more worried about someone relieving them of their camera gear ! You may ask what their doing but, generally you will leave them to it.

Alternatively someone taking images of airport security, checkpoints and government establishments would be viewed in a different light. Rightly so, it's then for that person to convince the officer why they really need that image.

I'm probably in for an ear bashing, but that's the reality as i see it !
 
Brilliant!! I am taken my camera up to London and indulge in photography after work. On a number of occasions I have spotted security guards looking at my camera - say around the Bank of England and I have seen other photographers stopped by the police. This document will go straight in my camera bag.
 
"Alternatively someone taking images of airport security, checkpoints and government establishments would be viewed in a different light. Rightly so, it's then for that person to convince the officer why they really need that image."

It isn't for them to convince the officer at all. A 'government establishment' could be any number of places from a DWP high street office to the MoD in Whitehall. If someone is taking a particular interest in security-specific aspects of an establishment then it's fair enough to ask a few questions.

It is completely the wrong approach to say that it is for the photographer to convince the police officer as this presupposes guilt on the photographers part. Provide some sort of explanation perhaps but not 'convince'. The distinction is critical as officers answer to the public, not the other way around and the only convincing that has to be done in the criminal justice system occurs where it ought to - in the courts.
 
UK Gov nationalises orphans and bans non-consensual photography in public

....."Not content with abrogating photographers' copyright, another part of Government is now going some way to ban photography altogether in public places, for data protection reasons. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) proposed new code for personal information online has "commonsense" new rules that in effect will prohibit photography in public places where anyone who's in the photograph might be unhappy about being photographed. A photo, taken in public, is now deemed private data, y'see.".....

Copyright Action
 
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