Anti Terror laws used to stop photographers
There was an interesting article on the Guardian web site on friday about police using the anti terror laws to prevent people taking photographs in public spaces. More evidence for keeping the powers of the state under tight control.
This follows a letter of guidance sent on the 4th December by the chief constable of the British transport police to the Association of Chief Police Officers in which he states that the anti terror legislation (known as Section 44) “gives officers no specific powers in relation to photography and there is no provision in law for the confiscation of equipment or the destruction of images, either digital or on film”.
A campaign group called I’m a photographer not a terrorist are planning a Mass Photo Gathering at 12 Noon on Saturday 23rd January 2010 in Trafalgar Square. There is a facebook event for this too.
It’s also interesting that, while we are theoretically free to take photographs in public spaces, more and more of our urban space is being privatised. Shopping centres, for example, are owned by private companies and so the owners can impose restrictions on the behaviour of the general public who visit the centres.
Art Photography
YOU’RE FILMING! – YES I AM!
Tags: anti terror legislation, camera, CCTV, filiming, filing, freedom, fucking hypocrites, hypocrites, hypocritical police, London Underground, photograph, photography, police, police hypocrites, section 404, Terrorism Act, Terrorism Act 2000
"YOU'RE FILMING!" - "YES I AM!"
I was up in London again last night for another Christmas drink. On the way back I saw a group of police in the tube and took a photo of them. It seems that they have not taken on board the recent guidance by the chief constable of the British transport police to the Association of Chief Police Officers. His guidance states that anti terror legislation (known as Section 44) “gives officers no specific powers in relation to photography ….”.
This didn’t stop one officer yelling “YOU’RE FILMING!” at me and raising his hand in a attempt to stop me. This seems incredibly hypocritical given the thousands of CCTV cameras throughout the London Underground. The establishment seems bent on introducing more and more big brother methods for policing and it seems that the only people who, they think, should be exempt are themselves. The picture I took is not very good but I reproduce it here as a minor assertion of a freedom which the police seem intent on erasing.
A demonstration is taking place in London to protest police heavy handedness with photographers. Be there.
Just to emphasise the point the picture below shows what happens when a peaceful demonstration takes place. The police turn up and film everyone. Fucking hypocrites!
Hypocrite!
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