Positive Police

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testbloke

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Felt compelled to post and report a positive experience with the police last night to redress the balance a wee bit and hopefully dispell the thinking that all authorities treat us as terrorists ...

Was up at local graveyard with my friend last night taking some shots. Two officers appeared and came into the graveyard. Very pleasent, explained that they had to check us out to ensure we were not up to anything, showed them a few pics then they had a five minute chat with us about photography, websites, photography competitions etc. Told us to enjoy our night and off they went.

Very positive and a credit to the force.
 
Good news doesn't sell newspapers...
 
Strangely enough they do have better things to do than harass 'hobbiests'. However, thats not to say that doesn't happen. Nice to hear a good report though.
 
desantnik said:
Good news doesn't sell newspapers...
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Note that the Notting Hill Carnival barely garnered more than a couple of columns...because nothing went wrong, and there were no police controversies.

There were 283 arrests - more than ever before, including some for very serious offences - but no press outcry or reporting of a job well done.

Glad to hear you had a good experience :thumbs:
 
Photo Plod said:
Note that the Notting Hill Carnival barely garnered more than a couple of columns...because nothing went wrong, and there were no police controversies.

There were 283 arrests - more than ever before, including some for very serious offences - but no press outcry or reporting of a job well done.

Glad to hear you had a good experience :thumbs:
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Sad indeed. But I always look at it like this; if a major event attracts not a lot of publicity then the police are doing a top notch job at keeping it all cool!

OP - thanks for reporting your positive experience. Nice to hear that the police are forging new relationships too.
 
Simmotino said:
I'll wager that, when they approached you, you were polite and co-operative with the officers?
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You mean he didn't wave his free Photographers Rights lens cloth at them and tell them to leave him alone?

It's definately good to hear about a positive experience with the police for a change. I've had loads of lovely experiences in the last year where I have gone out with my camera and the police have not even spoken to me sadly that is a story that will sell no newspapers and certainly won't stir up an angry mob on the web.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, outside London the issue of photographers rights is pretty much a non-issue and for the vast majority in London the same is true. Same with Stop and Search it is abuse by the MET and not a nationwide issue.
 
testbloke said:
Felt compelled to post and report a positive experience with the police last night to redress the balance a wee bit and hopefully dispell the thinking that all authorities treat us as terrorists ...

Was up at local graveyard with my friend last night taking some shots. Two officers appeared and came into the graveyard. Very pleasent, explained that they had to check us out to ensure we were not up to anything, showed them a few pics then they had a five minute chat with us about photography, websites, photography competitions etc. Told us to enjoy our night and off they went.

Very positive and a credit to the force.
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I'm a bit puzzled as to why they felt they 'had to' check you - were you doing anything obviously suspicious or was it just your presence witha camera?
 
Tenubracon said:
I'm a bit puzzled as to why they felt they 'had to' check you - were you doing anything obviously suspicious or was it just your presence witha camera?
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Someone will have reported a couple of people hanging around in the graveyard, graveyards are often hangouts for underage drinkers, drug addicts etc and are also frequently vandalised. The police will merely have been checking what was going on in a friendly community policing way like we all keep saying we want. Why does everything have to be an anti photography conspiracy?
 
Tenubracon said:
I'm a bit puzzled as to why they felt they 'had to' check you - were you doing anything obviously suspicious or was it just your presence witha camera?
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i think just being in a graveyard after dark would arouse enough suspicion for the police to come and have a look, what should be commended is the fact that they didnt arrest or move on sighting some law with zero evidence.
 
a1ex2001 said:
Someone will have reported a couple of people hanging around in the graveyard, graveyards are often hangouts for underage drinkers, drug addicts etc and are also frequently vandalised. The police will merely have been checking what was going on in a friendly community policing way like we all keep saying we want. Why does everything have to be an anti photography conspiracy?
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Or, maybe nobody reported anything at all and the officers were simply patrolling? :)
 
Simmotino said:
I'll wager that, when they approached you, you were polite and co-operative with the officers?
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Absolutely, I offered to show them a few pics and explain the shots we were taking to make it clear we were not doing anything disrespectfull or in poor taste.

Tenubracon said:
I'm a bit puzzled as to why they felt they 'had to' check you - were you doing anything obviously suspicious or was it just your presence witha camera?
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They were passing on patrol and saw the flashes and cars parked. Sadly, other than the vandals etc already suggested, they also apparently get people stealing (flowers, gravestones etc). Would make you sick, but apparently anything with value is fair game to some people. They did ask if we saw vans etc hanging around while in the area to give them a bell.

As I said, positive policing and I had absolutely no issue with them "checking us out"
 
Simmotino said:
I'll wager that, when they approached you, you were polite and co-operative with the officers?
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OMG START FILMING! HARASSMENT HARASSMENT!

Before you say anything about this, /officer/, be aware that my 71 twitter followers and 151 blog viewers in the last month will be DISGUSTED that I am being harassed by a POLICEMAN for taking PHOTOS, which is legal! Here, have a photographer's rights leaflet, I am fully within my rights! No, of course you can't see my photos! They are my art and copyright and cannot grace your eyes! You're SO going to be all over youtube, "OFFICER."
 
itsdavedotnet said:
OMG START FILMING! HARASSMENT HARASSMENT!

Before you say anything about this, /officer/, be aware that my 71 twitter followers and 151 blog viewers in the last month will be DISGUSTED that I am being harassed by a POLICEMAN for taking PHOTOS, which is legal! Here, have a photographer's rights leaflet, I am fully within my rights! No, of course you can't see my photos! They are my art and copyright and cannot grace your eyes! You're SO going to be all over youtube, "OFFICER."
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Now, now, don't pretend all the documented problems have been caused purely by photographer's attitudes. Even senior police officers and the Government recognized there was a problem and something had to be done. It's really nice to hear about the police going about their duties in a responsible but friendly way. :)
 
Tenubracon said:
I'm a bit puzzled as to why they felt they 'had to' check you
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Perhaps, and I'm going out on a limb here I know, it's because that's their job? You know, to prevent crime and investigate initially apparent suspicious activity? :shrug:

testbloke said:
Absolutely, I offered to show them a few pics and explain the shots we were taking to make it clear we were not doing anything disrespectfull or in poor taste.
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I thought that may have been the case somehow. Who'd have thought? Officers being treated civilly responding in kind and leaving people to get on with their business.

It's strange times we live in I tell thee. Strange times!

:lol:
 
Simmotino said:
Perhaps, and I'm going out on a limb here I know, it's because that's their job? You know, to prevent crime and investigate initially apparent suspicious activity? :shrug:
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I was asking why their behaviour was suspicious - which the OP answered by filling in the details. That's how conversations work, you know, by taking turns to say stuff. :shrug:
 
A while back, I was sat in the car park of a factory at Mildenhall, watching the approach for the airbase.

A Police car went past, I carried on, a few mins later, it came past in the other direction, then it pulled into the car park, and parked beside me.

Me: "Afternoon Officer"

Him "Hello sir, just popped in to see why a van is parked in this car park on a Sunday afternoon"

Me: "I take photos of aircraft, I'm just sat here watching the approach waiting and hoping something will turn up"

Him: *turns to colleague* "see, I told it was to do with the aircraft! Is this your vehicle Sir?"

And so the routine questions and vehicle check was carried out, we chatted for about 5 more mins, and they parted with "Hope something nice comes in and you get a good shot"

5 minutes of my life taken up, no drama, free to carry on doing my hobby. I couldn't ask for frendlier officers. The MOD Police in the area are equally as friendly, they ask the questions, if they get the the answers and manners/respect/courtesy that should be given, everyones a winner, they are after all, doing a job that many of us would refuse to do.
 
So the police are a bit like real people? If you're nice to them they're nice to you?
 
dan d said:
So the police are a bit like real people? If you're nice to them they're nice to you?
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Indeed. I'd also go as far as to say there's probably neigh on the same mix of nice and nasty people as there are in the rest of society.

However, the issue is that other people with "issues" don't have a the powers that a policeman does to make your life hell. Anyone else, you'd call the police :D

The issue is not even that crap occurs (because it always will), is that the response to it always seems to appear inadequate and the measures ineffective.

I'd love to hear that the "good coppers" dislike their retarded co-workers as much as the rest of us....
 
I have never really had a bad experience with police officers while working..

I'm even on first names terms with my local Area Commander, Chief Superintendent.. :thumbs:

It's the PCSO's that haven't got a clue! :bang:
 
I was out trying my first hand at light graffiti with some friends last winter in the newly developed area of my town full of brand new large expensive buildings. It was about half 11 at night.

We noticed a few security staff looking at us funny from the doorways of the buildings but we were in the main square or car parks to keep out of the way.

About 10 minutes later a police car turned up. police woman wound down the window, called us over. Asked what we were doing.

We explained we were out messing about with our new cameras trying out something we had read about on the internet. She asked to see a photo or two, I showed her (she was being nice to us, so I wasn't going to say "no you can't see my rubbish attempt at a stick man holding an umbrella")...

She laughed, said "That's fine boys, Ill leave you to it, I just had to be seen to be speaking with you because the security guards in that office block were wondering what you were doing and were getting a bit jumpy, Have a good night!", we told her we didn't know he wasnt happy with us being there and if he wanted to come over and chat then he is welcome to. She said something along the lines of "I wouldn't worry! Your not even on their property and its not as if your harming anyone! Enjoy your night!" and off she went!

Same as with any 'run in' with 'authority' I do my best to be friendly with them and treat them as a human being (They have to deal with a lot more flack in their day job than I do) and pretty much all of the time everything is fine! :D
 
I was doing some location shots around Hastings with a band earlier today, they wanted something a little bit 'street', so we found a pretty filthy alley in the town centre and did some photos in there. A few minutes later, one of the band guys spotted some PCSOs walking towards us, and sure enough they came over to ask what we were doing. I explained that I was doing some promo shots for the guys.
The PCSOs were 'warning' us that this particular spot was a favoured drug abuse area for the local scum and to watch out for needles etc. I think they were disappointed when they found out that the 4 guys they saw enter an alleyway weren't actually doing anything wrong! Anyway, they quite happily left us to it and wished us a good day.

I've not actually had any problems with police/security yet, probably because I do a lot of my photography on a remote beach!
 
Same as these guys outside Portsmouth docks who were happy for me to fire away merrily once I had asked their permission,the vast majority of coppers are great but as many have said that does not sell newspapers

4800707163_fa24022ceb.jpg
[/url] Portsmouth05.07.2010_083 by Nigel Cliff, on Flickr[/IMG]
 
PDS said:
It's the PCSO's that haven't got a clue! :bang:
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I used to work quite a lot with PCSO's in my last job and found that most were hard working and devoted officers working to try and improve the area and the community they worked in. I think they get a bad press unfairly and undeserved.

Steve
 
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steve_v said:
I used to work quite a lot with PSCO's in my last job and found that most were hard working and devoted officers working to try and improve the area and the community they worked in. I think they get a bad press unfairly and undeserved.

Steve
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Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking what work PCSO's do in the community. In that enviroment they are okay. BUT put them next to some blue tape with the words 'do not cross', and they loose the plot!
 
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