Photography illegal in Great Britain. Not.

[Jocko]

I was mug enough to sign that infamous Downing St. petition, before realising it was the work of a gibbering loon with a private agenda and only the most tenuous grasp of reality.

The thought of whom naturally brings to mind our dear Prime Minister, who has now written me a lovely letter which may be of interest to RFF members.... :

E-Petition: response from the Government

The e-petition asking the Prime Minister to "Stop proposed restrictions regarding photography in public places" is on-going. This is a response in advance of the closing date from the Government.

Thank you for signing the petition on the Downing Street website calling for the Prime Minister to stop proposed restrictions on photography in public places.

This petition has already attracted over 60,000 signatures from people who obviously share your concern. Not surprisingly, the idea that the Government might be poised to restrict your ability to take photos has caused some puzzlement and even alarm.

We have therefore decided to respond to this petition before its closing date of August, in order to reassure people.

The Government appreciates that millions of people in this country enjoy photography. So we have checked carefully to see if any Government department was considering any proposal that might possibly lead to the sort of restrictions suggested by this petition. We have been assured this is not the case.

There may be cases where individual schools or other bodies believe it is necessary to have some restrictions on photography, for instance to protect children, but that would be a matter for local decisions.

In fact, Simon Taylor, who started the petition, has since made clear that he was not really referring to Government action or legislation. His main concern appears to be that photographic societies and other organisations may introduce voluntary ID cards for members to help them explain why they are taking photographs. Again, any such scheme would not involve the Government.

We hope this re-assures you and clears up the confusion.


Thus the flag of freedom flies for evermore etc etc etc.

Cheers, Ian

 

[Sparrow]

They know where you live now Ian……….and they know you’re a troublemaker………
😀 😉

 

[Jocko]

They know where you live now Ian……….and they know you’re a troublemaker………
😀 😉

Little Me? The "Friend of the Mods"? 😱

I am trembling under the kitchen table as I write 🙂

Cheers, Ian!

 

[Sparrow]

Little Me? The "Friend of the Mods"? 😱

I am trembling under the kitchen table as I write 🙂

Cheers, Ian!

I half filled it in then got all paranoid………you never know, our only defence could be technological incompetence

regards

 

[Jocko]

I half filled it in then got all paranoid………you never know, our only defence could be technological incompetence

regards

I shall tell the People's Police that I was forced to do it by a mysterious and all-pervasive power known only as "The Magus"! 🙁

 

[mike_j]

This didn't prevent the police stopping a couple of togs from Amateur Photographer photographing Big Ben recently though!

 

[lushd]

Jocko m'boy - clutching this charming missive to your breast, go and stand outside the MI5 building with a Zenit 122s photosniper cocked and loaded. I will visit you in Camp X Ray!

 

[jesse1dog]

There was a short paragraph in the Telegraph that the police had confiscated cameras and mobile phones from people who were taking photos of 2 motorcyclists who had been killed on a Motorway accident.
I find this an interesting reaction by the Police and intend to enquire further as to the powers that were been used.

Other threads have discussed the issue of taking photos in such circumstances and I guess its up to the individual - I wouldn't unless I needed some evidence to support myself, family or friends.

 

[Sparrow]

I shall tell the People's Police that I was forced to do it by a mysterious and all-pervasive power known only as "The Magus"! 🙁

Ian you’re a bad man, Donald’s right if you’re not careful you’ll end up in X-Ray’s camp!

I didn’t even know he had a tent 😕

 

[Sparrow]

There was a short paragraph in the Telegraph that the police had confiscated cameras and mobile phones from people who were taking photos of 2 motorcyclists who had been killed on a Motorway accident.
I find this an interesting reaction by the Police and intend to enquire further as to the powers that were been used.

Other threads have discussed the issue of taking photos in such circumstances and I guess its up to the individual - I wouldn't unless I needed some evidence to support myself, family or friends.

A few years ago following riots in Bradford (West Yorks) the police asked for film and digital cameras to be handed in, but it was in the form of a request for information not a confiscation, I suspect this could be the same; I cant think of anything that would allow them to confiscate photo equipment without going to court first.