Stopped from taking pics on southbank because camera looks too professional.

[Steve Smith]

Would I (for example) be allowed to make a mobile phone call whilst on a public right of way?

Yes.


Steve.

 

[big soft moose]

What you are saying is that anyone who uses a public footpath needs to acquaint themselves with the list of permitted activities? Would I (for example) be allowed to make a mobile phone call whilst on a public right of way? - I chose this example as it would spoil the tranquillity more for other path users than taking a photo of the fine view would.

Its a fairly short list - on a footpath you have the right to freely pass or repass on foot (or in a wheel chair or a class 1 mobility scooter). That's it. technically being on a PRoW doesn't give you the right to make mobile phone call on private land - but as I said earlier trespass is a civil matter and its highly unlikely that any landowner would seek to stop you using a phone or to sue for the technical trespass (very technically - to the point of pure horses*** - you don't even have the right to stand still on a PRoW without committing obstruction, but in the real world no one is going to sue over that so long as you don't actually obstruct the passage of another user)

As I said earlier I'm not aware of anyone who's been sued for taking photos from a PRoW* (most of the cases I'm aware of were about either cycling or fishing) - but there are ample cases of people being legitimately told to stop or leave (*there was one case relating to a wildlife photographer building a hide - but that was an aggravated trespass case and the aggravation was criminal damage caused by cutting trees to build said hide without consent - so it want really about photography per se)

 

[big soft moose]

. Do we in the UK really have a law that says we must obey a police officer? As in we cannot refuse a lawful order?.

yep Police act 1996 s89: "hindering a police officer in the course of his duty"

 

[ChasG]

MMMmmm Tenuous IMHO

Assaults on constables.
Any person who resists or wilfully obstructs a constable in the execution of his duty, or a person assisting a constable in the execution of his duty, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month or to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale, or to both.

Once again a catchall slipped into another Bill - I hardly feel that not agreeing to be stopped and searched at will is what the legislators intended.
Maybe they should slip in a little Joint Enterprise at the same - one person in the van has a little weed for personal use about his person so we will do the vanload.

I must congratulate you on your in depth knowledge of the law.
Ignorance of the law is no defence but let's make it hard for the general public to know what the law is. I know slip it after 88 sections of an act that has little or no interest to GP