If you can’t see the above video view it here.
Once again we are faced with another case of a photographer in the UK being treated like a criminal. This is now beginning to make my blood boil. It seems the only cameras accepted in this country are those with CCTV written on them.
For more on this particular case take a look here.
I think it’s about time all our UK readers sent a wee email to their local MP or MSP letting them know of their concerns on this issue and again for every occasion they get been stopped, hassled, detained or assaulted for taking photographs in a public place.
We should not let this lie.
UPDATE: There is a Downing Street petition here, asking the Prime Minister to clarify the laws surrounding photography in public places. If you are a UK citizen, make sure you put your name to it.
[via Photodoto]
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There’s been an ongoing discussion on this on the Leeds Flickr Group with several members reporting they’ve been stopped by police (usually PCSOs) and many in the group have written to their local MPs with varying results.
Is this bozo a cop? He doesn’t seem to give a straight answer.
Just as bad are police in places were photography in public places and of public officials is most certainly not illegal, who are either ignorant of the fact or simply do not care. In fact I just watched a YouTube video of a man recording a video of a NYC meter maid parked in front of a fire hydrant on her lunch break – another supposed retired cop approaches them shouting, “You’re not supposed to let anyone tape you” to the meter maid, the says to the camera man, “You can’t tape us, because of the terrorism.”
A later news clip shows a supervisor watching the video, and commenting how police and meter maids need to “get used to it”, because there is nothing illegal about it.
But will they ever care? Not as long as they all think they’re above the law. This camera man makes a lot of these videos, and there is allegedly a cash pool, a bounty if you will, that goes to the first cop to arrest him.
Aside from needing to be disciplined, all these people should all be very ashamed.