Photographers and Terrorists

There has been a lot of hysteria over the past year concerning photographers. There have been a number of high profile incidences of Police and Private security guards and community police attempting to stop and in some cases with Plod actually arresting people and confiscating kit, the only crime appearing to be taking photographs in a public place.

Austin Mitchell the Amateur Photographer MP has been raising the issue in the House of Commons. AP have the latest on this here

There have been numerous reports of the terrorism act being cited in an attempt to stop photographers going about their lawful hobby or profession, but actually how common is this? My own experience, and the stories I have managed to investigate on behalf of the National Union of Journalists suggest that yes, a variety of officialdom does indeed try and stop photographers taking photographs in public places, but in reality it is rarely the Terrorism Act which is invoked. Usually it is ignorance, and officiousness, that (a small number of) people in uniform sometimes have, which they believe allows them to make up the law as they go along, so they do!

Interestingly enough, photography is not mentioned in the Terrorism Act 2006. Not once


UK Police seize amateur photographer's film (1/12/07)
Birmingham police officer 'forced press photographer to delete images' (2/3/08)

There are plenty more examples.


So what is the law?

I wrote to my MP John Heppell, and he wrote to 'Home Secretary' Jacqui Smith. Indeed Ms Smith confirmed that there was no restriction on photography in public places, but did add that local Chief Constables had the authority to restrict photography under certain circumstances!

Certain circumstances? What does that mean? So a month ago I wrote to my own Chief Constable here in Nottingham, Mr Green, and asked him what those circumstances might be and how would these restrictions be imposed and how would the public (and press) be advised?

I have had an acknowledgement and the 20 days is up on Monday, so I will let you know…


© Pete Jenkins
www.petejenkins.co.uk
www.photographerspro.eu/pete_jenkins/