Posted by: RFM on: June 28, 2008
[http://current.com/items/88856223_you_can_t_picture_this]
Via BoingBoing, I recommend viewing this video of a videographer being hassled by London Community Support Officers. (I can’t embed the video because WordPress doesn’t like the format.) Thank goodness the guy stood up for his rights and forced the officers to stand down. Many other people would have caved, accepting that they were doing something “wrong”, and maybe even have felt guilty about it.
To reiterate: you’re allowed to film/photograph in a public place. It’s not illegal, and there is no reason it should be. No terrorist plot has ever involved the terrorists filming their targets in advance.
There is a petition on the Downing Street web site asking the PM to clarify the law, so that rent-a-cops and over zealous security guards don’t continue to hassle people like this.
June 28, 2008 at 9:01 am
Video photographers are not the only people targeted. Overzealous Community Officers also stop photographers particularly if they are using a tripod.
A spokesperson for the Association of Chief Police Officers speaking on BBC Radio 4 admitted the Community Officers are inadequately trained on the law regarding photography. He provide the following guidlines to follow if stopped by the police or Community Officer:
1. Remain polite.
2. Ask them to give an explanation why they have stopped you.
3. Ask them to summon a senior officer to deal with the matter.
But bear in mind while there is no law preventing you filming and photographing in a public space, there are hundreds of laws thet can be used: loitering, causing a nuisance, obstructing the police in the performance of their duties, etc, etc, etc,