Petition asking to stop photography restrictions.

E-Petition: response from the Government

The e-petition asking the Prime Minister to "Stop proposed restrictions regarding photography in public places" is on-going. This is a response in advance of the closing date from the Government.

Thank you for signing the petition on the Downing Street website calling for the Prime Minister to stop proposed restrictions on photography in public places.

This petition has already attracted over 60,000 signatures from people who obviously share your concern. Not surprisingly, the idea that the Government might be poised to restrict your ability to take photos has caused some puzzlement and even alarm.

We have therefore decided to respond to this petition before its closing date of August, in order to reassure people.

The Government appreciates that millions of people in this country enjoy photography. So we have checked carefully to see if any Government department was considering any proposal that might possibly lead to the sort of restrictions suggested by this petition. We have been assured this is not the case.

There may be cases where individual schools or other bodies believe it is necessary to have some restrictions on photography, for instance to protect children, but that would be a matter for local decisions.

In fact, Simon Taylor, who started the petition, has since made clear that he was not really referring to Government action or legislation. His main concern appears to be that photographic societies and other organisations may introduce voluntary ID cards for members to help them explain why they are taking photographs. Again, any such scheme would not involve the Government.

We hope this re-assures you and clears up the confusion.
 
I understand the child concern issue in and around schools.
A parent complained that people were photographing the school nativity play one year.

I, as a parent thought the school would then ban any photography, plays, sports day etc. But they did it the other way, they asked all parents if they minded having their children photographed. Those that responded yes were told that their children would not be in any plays or sports days etc.

A little unfair on the kids but that's the way it is i suppose.
 
Jason said:
I, as a parent thought the school would then ban any photography, plays, sports day etc. But they did it the other way, they asked all parents if they minded having their children photographed. Those that responded yes were told that their children would not be in any plays or sports days etc.

A little unfair on the kids but that's the way it is i suppose.
Click to expand...

A little unfair, yes, but better than preventing the parents of all the other children capturing memories of them growing up.

Our daughters school has the right approach.
She allows all parental photography and filming of events, and just says "any parent who wishes to object is free to do so". No one has.

If I wasn't allowed to take photos or film my daughters school events, I wouldnt have half of the memories I have now. I dont have much from me growing up, and I'm going to make sure my children have plenty of memories to look back on.

What really annoys me though are the schools who dont allow any photographs etc, but allow an 'official' photographer in to photograph the children (at a cost to the parents of course). I think it's few and far between, but it's wrong, so wrong.

I too received the above response BTW this afternoon.
 
signed
 
chouglez said:
"
It is a fundamental right of a UK citizen to use a camera in a public place, indeed there is no right to privacy when in a public place."
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The problem with that statement is there are no UK citizens, we are subjects.
As we have a monarchy we can't be citizens.
 
signed
 
Thought I'd join in this discussion as it interests me on two accounts .. as a photographer and also as a teacher.

Firstly, the petition. It must be noted that the petition is NOT related to any proposals by the government. I read something about this a few weeks ago and it is related to something that happened in France.

The idea behind the proposition is that all photographers can carry ID cards to 'prove' what there doing. Why we have to prove what we're doing is another matter, but with the anti-terrorism laws that are currently in place in this country, we're not far off it now. Pick up any camera magazine (or ask a few people on here) and you will hear off people being stopped by the police asking what they are doing. London / Westminster seems a very 'hot' place at the moment for this to happen.

As for restricting photography in places - as has been said, how this is enforced will be interesting.

Hopefully, no such proposals will come about - but with heightened security at the moment, I wouldn't be too shocked to see some offical ripping out my film / memory card before whisking me off in an orange boiler suit!!!! :|

As regards photography in schools .... my school also has a 'sign if you object to photos being taken' policy - again, no one has signed. It's sad that this is the way the world is going. I recently wanted to practice some sports shots and thought our schools football match would be a good place to do that. However, after thinking about it for a bit, I decided I would look like (or at least be perceived as) a 'perv' pointing a long lens at children! I didn't take my camera in the end. Maybe I should have done, but at the time I wondered (and worried?) about other peoples perceptions.

A real can of worms this one.

I personally am not a parent, yet I wonder how I would feel if a person (albeit a photographer) decided to point their lens at my child? Would i be chuffed and see the shot they're going for, or would I be the person ripping the card/film out ?

Discuss ....

Cheers.

Anth.
PS - this is my most serious forum post on ANY forum. Ever!
 
whiteflyer said:
The problem with that statement is there are no UK citizens, we are subjects.
As we have a monarchy we can't be citizens.
Click to expand...

Legally we are "British Citizens":
http://www.legislationline.org/legislation.php?tid=11&lid=3866

But I am not sure where the idea came from that the two conceptions are mutually exclusive, though it is commonly held. At its strictest definition of a subject as being someone under the direct rule of a monarch with no rights it is impossible to say that we are subjects at all.

While if you take it more loosely then all citizens are also subjects, whether of a monarchy or a written constitution, and certainly to the rule of law.

Anyway this is way off topic now.

Michael.
 
Signed and just checked there are 64,659 signatures so far!
 
Why do people feel the need to tell me they've signed it?
 
I’ve signed, but my understanding of the matter after studying the petition and the government reply, is that there is no intention for the introduction of said restriction?
 
I've not signed it as I think that under certain circumstances the security services (be thay police or 'other' agencies) should have the right to stop and ask individuals what they're about if seen photographing prominent structures, such as government buildings, road and rail bridges, airport approaches etc.
Do not underestimate the fact that there are many people out there that seek to do us genuine harm, not only 'us' as individuals but 'us' as a way of life - our very civilisation is under attack and we all sit here blithely ignoring that.
Iraq and Afghanistan are merely the overtures to a War against the very fabric of our society.
If a few restrictions on what we can photograph 'without good reason' have to be enforced for the good of the many, then so be it. It's only photos - it's not life and death.
 
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