StewartR
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What happened to those buttons we had a little while ago that let you give the thumbs-up to a post? This one deserves it.
Photographing the police and the public, is it allowed?
- Thread starter heptonstall
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I actually am a police officer, so here's my point of view.
I don't mind people taking pictures of me. After all, I am in public. I would prefer that people ask me before starting to take the photograph, but que sera sera.
It is not illegal to take photographs of police officers going about their daily duties.
It is not illegal to take photos of anybody in public. Anything in the public domain is, by it's very nature, in the public domain. Clearly if a building states "no photography" then you can't take pictures in there.
The line gets a bit fuzzier if you are taking photos in "sensitive" areas - for example, I recently had a member of the public ask if he could take a picture of our station - of course ! There is nothing sensitive about the outside of a police station after all. However, had he wanted to take a picture of our parade room, which is covered with pictures of known offenders, the answer would have been very different.
I would be very surprised if any photographer was arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act if they were simply taking a few snaps of officers going about their daily business. Without going into great tracts of law, most UK officers are extremely reluctant to use this legislation as the use of it entails a vast amount of paperwork.
So, use common sense and courtesy, and if an officer says "don't take my photo", please remember that they just might not like having their photo taken, not that they are being an arse for the sake of it.
I don't mind people taking pictures of me. After all, I am in public. I would prefer that people ask me before starting to take the photograph, but que sera sera.
It is not illegal to take photographs of police officers going about their daily duties.
It is not illegal to take photos of anybody in public. Anything in the public domain is, by it's very nature, in the public domain. Clearly if a building states "no photography" then you can't take pictures in there.
The line gets a bit fuzzier if you are taking photos in "sensitive" areas - for example, I recently had a member of the public ask if he could take a picture of our station - of course ! There is nothing sensitive about the outside of a police station after all. However, had he wanted to take a picture of our parade room, which is covered with pictures of known offenders, the answer would have been very different.
I would be very surprised if any photographer was arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act if they were simply taking a few snaps of officers going about their daily business. Without going into great tracts of law, most UK officers are extremely reluctant to use this legislation as the use of it entails a vast amount of paperwork.
So, use common sense and courtesy, and if an officer says "don't take my photo", please remember that they just might not like having their photo taken, not that they are being an arse for the sake of it.
StewartR
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Lots of people just don't like having their photo taken. (I'm one of them. I always look shorter and fatter and uglier in photos than I am in reality.
) If they happen to be a policeman, putting the uniform and gong to work doesn't mean they suddenly like having their photo taken.
james_death
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As stated you a free to take pictures in public areas.
Im also of the view that if someone does not want there picture taken then i respect that as i would another to respect me if i did not want my picture taken. All i ask is that they are civil.
On anotherpoint im sure i read in a photomag that under no account does anyone have a right to delete your pictures.
But then again a secret militery instalation is another matter but then again its not public so you should not have taken the pic.
all the best,
james,
oh better get back to work.
Im also of the view that if someone does not want there picture taken then i respect that as i would another to respect me if i did not want my picture taken. All i ask is that they are civil.
On anotherpoint im sure i read in a photomag that under no account does anyone have a right to delete your pictures.
But then again a secret militery instalation is another matter but then again its not public so you should not have taken the pic.
all the best,
james,
oh better get back to work.
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The law in Scotland being different to the rest of mainland uk, details of stop and search powers in Scotland can be found here.
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/nm/sc...al_system_scotland/police_powers_scotland.htm
Not actually much different but it's best to have the right info for the right area.
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/nm/sc...al_system_scotland/police_powers_scotland.htm
Not actually much different but it's best to have the right info for the right area.
scoff
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I saw a police car which had crashed, went home got my camera, walked into a good position... standing next to an officer and shot a few pictures.. the officer asked why I was taking pictures, I replied so I can make you lot look stupid on the internet!
He said you cant do that... my reply was something along the lines of yeh whatever! I'm in a public place, not causing an obstruction or doing anything illegal. Took a shot of him and went!
Job done!
Stand your ground if challenged, but dont go to the extreme!!
I love a good row at times!
He said you cant do that... my reply was something along the lines of yeh whatever! I'm in a public place, not causing an obstruction or doing anything illegal. Took a shot of him and went!
Job done!
Stand your ground if challenged, but dont go to the extreme!!
I love a good row at times!
sportysnaps
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I think in a lot of situations the best approach is be polite, smile, be honest with what you are doing, and treat people that are doing their job with respect and you will get the photo you want without grief....
The police have a job to do, and you may have a job to do also – a little compromise goes a long way.
The police have a job to do, and you may have a job to do also – a little compromise goes a long way.
donut
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Interesting thread with some good replies and others whereby if you followed the advice given you'd only exacerbate the situation.
I was a police officer many moons ago and from a personal point of view I didn't like having my photograph taken, purely for security reasons. In saying that I worked in areas of London where tourists were a rare breed and if I or any of my colleagues were photographed (particulalry with a telephoto/zoom lens) the immediate thought was 'Am I being targetted?' due to the amount of criminal gangs in the area (and police officers often were targetted). Secondly this was in an area with a large Irish population and this was in the eighties when the Provos were at their height and had a strong presence in the pubs and clubs in the area where I worked, again you would have to ask if yourself if you were being targetted.
It is different from working in central London but in short you have to judge each case on ots own merits and above all don't antagonise anyone. If they don't want their picture taken - don't take it, whether they are a police officer or anyone else. Common sense really.
I was a police officer many moons ago and from a personal point of view I didn't like having my photograph taken, purely for security reasons. In saying that I worked in areas of London where tourists were a rare breed and if I or any of my colleagues were photographed (particulalry with a telephoto/zoom lens) the immediate thought was 'Am I being targetted?' due to the amount of criminal gangs in the area (and police officers often were targetted). Secondly this was in an area with a large Irish population and this was in the eighties when the Provos were at their height and had a strong presence in the pubs and clubs in the area where I worked, again you would have to ask if yourself if you were being targetted.
It is different from working in central London but in short you have to judge each case on ots own merits and above all don't antagonise anyone. If they don't want their picture taken - don't take it, whether they are a police officer or anyone else. Common sense really.
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lol It took me a while to work that one out...fuzzier...I get it
Was busy trying to work it out.........until I read your post
.