Photographers face jail in the UK.

Trojan911

Saw this while browsing, photographers under fire again with new legislation to enforce it in the UK. Source

wrote:

Title: Jail for photographing police?
Feature: news
Date: 28 January 2009



The relationship between photographers and police could worsen next month when new laws are introduced that allow for the arrest - and imprisonment - of anyone who takes pictures of officers 'likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism'.

Set to become law on 16 February, the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 amends the Terrorism Act 2000 regarding offences relating to information about members of armed forces, a member of the intelligence services, or a police officer.

The new set of rules, under section 76 of the 2008 Act and section 58A of the 2000 Act, will target anyone who 'elicits or attempts to elicit information about (members of armed forces) ... which is of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism'.

A person found guilty of this offence could be liable to imprisonment for up to 10 years, and to a fine.

The law is expected to increase the anti-terrorism powers used today by police officers to stop photographers, including press photographers, from taking pictures in public places. 'Who is to say that police officers won't abuse these powers,' asks freelance photographer Justin Tallis, who was threatened by an officer last week.

Tallis, a London-based photographer, was covering the anti-BBC protest on Saturday 24 January when he was approached by a police officer. Tallis had just taken a picture of the officer, who then asked to see the picture. The photographer refused, arguing that, as a press photographer, he had a right to take pictures of police officers.

According to Tallis, the officer then tried to take the camera away. Before giving up, the officer said that Tallis 'shouldn't have taken that photo, you were intimidating me'. The incident was caught on camera by photojournalist Marc Vallee.

Tallis is a member of the National Union of Journalists and the British Press Photographers' Association. 'The incident lasted just 10 seconds, but you don't expect a police officer to try to pull your camera from your neck,' Tallis tells BJP.

The incident came less than a week after it was revealed that an amateur photographer was stopped in Cleveland by police officers when taking pictures of ships. The photographer was asked if he had any terrorism connections and told that his details would be kept on file.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman explained: 'If seen in suspicious circumstances, members of the public may well be approached by police officers and asked about their activities. Photography of buildings and areas from a public place is not an offence and is certainly not something the police wish to discourage. Nevertheless, in order to verify a person's actions as being entirely innocent, police officers are expected to engage and seek clarification where appropriate.'

The statement echoes the Prime Minister's answer to a petition signed by more than 5700 people. Gordon Brown reaffirmed, last week, that the police have a legal right to restrict photography in public places.

'There are no legal restrictions on photography in public places. However, the law applies to photographers as it does to anybody else in a public place. So there may be situations in which the taking of photographs may cause or lead to public order situations or raise security considerations,' Downing Street says.

'Each situation will be different and it would be an operational matter for the officer concerned as to what action if any should be taken in respect of those taking photographs. Anybody with a concern about a specific incident should raise the matter with the chief constable of the relevant force.'

However, Liberty, which campaigns on human rights, has decried the excessive use of stop-and-search powers given to police officers under section 44 of the Terrorism Act. The group's legal director, James Welch, said the powers were used too widely.

In December, freelance press photographer Jess Hurd was detained for more than 45 minutes after she was stopped while covering the wedding of a couple married in Docklands.

She was detained under section 44 of the Terrorism Act. Her camera was forcefully removed from her, and while she showed her press card, three police officers insisted on viewing the footage she had taken.

'Any officer who suspects an offence has been committed has the right to detain you,' a Metropolitan press officer told BJP at the time. 'Because you are a press photographer does not preclude you from being stopped under section 44 of the Terrorism Act. If the officer thought the photographer acted suspiciously, and especially if it was in a sensitive place, he had a right to detain and question the photographer.'

The tension between police officers and photographers is not limited to the UK. Last week, Icelandic police fired pepper spray on photojournalists as they were covering protests in front of the country's parliament building.

Kristjan Logason, a press photographer in Iceland, tells BJP that he was targeted along with other press photographers. 'The Icelandic police systematically tried to remove photographers by pepper-spraying them,' he says.

The photographers were covering a protest in front of the Althing parliament building in the capital Reykjavik. Iceland's financial system collapsed in October under the weight of billions of dollars of foreign debts incurred by its banks.

Already seven photographers have come forward as having been targetted by the Icelandic Police.

Check bjp-online.com for updates.

towel401

the UK is already a ****ing police state. that place is getting worse by the day and by the time people realise how ****ing ridiculous it is it will be too late.

Phototoxin

yes it is, I will report more on it when I move there in a few months.

mehfesto2

If anyone's interested, there's a bigger discussion about this going on here:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?threadid=2055483333

Trojan911

Phototoxin wrote: »

yes it is, I will report more on it when I move there in a few months.

Hopefully you won't be reporting from one of HMPS.....

It is a bit drastic, however if the photographer is not breaching any laws there should not be a problem. My concerns would be an abuse of authority or lack of knowledge by the police or some oppressive rent-a-mob type spoiling it for the legitimate snapper.

An ordinary Joe Tourist should be allowed to proceed with his/her daily movements and a Press Snapper should be allowed to do his/her job with minimum disruption.

Fionn

Phototoxin wrote: »

yes it is, I will report more on it when I move there in a few months.

don't forget to pack your weapon camera before you go!!!

what a load of crap!! what about the Sky programme that goes out on patrol with the cops? it's on at least every week! and there'd be lads giving out yards about being filmed and the cops telling them 'yeah, mate they're entitled to film ya'

i'd hate to be doing a wedding over there huh? imagine if the cops destroyed the files?? big law suit maybe! certainly - a very unhappy couple.

RustyNut

http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPage.html?page=836675

coylemj

There was a discussion about this yesterday, it's already drifted off the first page so you may have missed it..

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055483398

Covey

Anyone who shoots is a terrorist of course.

Covey

This reads well until the line "Please note that this event is not a Protest! It’s just photography!

Do I detect rabid fear at play here

Photographers are to take part in a mass picture taking session· 9 Feb 2009
Photographers are taking action over a new law - A mass picture taking session is to be held to raise awareness about the Counter Terrorism act and the possible problems it could create.
Press photographers, the NUJ and a comedian will be holding a mass picture taking session outside Scotland Yard after concerns over the Terrorism Act 2008 continue to grow.

Many photographers fear they are at a greater risk of being stopped from taking photographs in public places because of the Counter Terrorism Act which allows for the arrest and imprisonment of someone "likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism."

Photographers began to raise concerns over a new clause (58A of the 2000 Act, section 76 of the 2008 Act ) which talks about “elicits or attempts to elicit information about an individual who is or has been a member of Her Majesty’s forces, a member of any of the intelligence services, or a constable...which is of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism. ”

Comedian Mark Thomas, documentary maker Chris Atkins, photojournalist Marc Vallee and NUJ vice-president Pete Murray will be joining photographers for the mass photo taking session which will take place on Monday 16 February – the day the act will become a law.

The event's Facebook page titled I'm a photographer...Not a terrorist says: “The plan is simple, turn up with your camera and exercise your democratic right to take a photograph in a public place. Please note that this event is not a Protest! It’s just photography! See you on the 16th folks!”

The photo taking will start at 11am outside New Scotland Yard, London.

Phototoxin

Its a farce... any intelligent terrorist would just use google earth..

Covey

Wouldn't think so:eek:

kgiller

I actually am a terrorist ...

RustyNut

Woops :o:o

coylemj wrote: »

There was a discussion about this yesterday, it's already drifted off the first page so you may have missed it..

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055483398

Mycroft H

If college fees are reintroduced i will soon become a terrorist.


Watch your back batt o keefe.......

sheesh

I wanted to do terrorism/political science arts Degree in trinity but i didn't get the points

I've applied as a mature student to do Violent Activism Technology in IT Tralee and hope to do the part time Masters in Terrorism in Trinity after.

I hear you really need the Masters to get into a good organisation these days. :rolleyes:

Covey

sheesh wrote: »

Violent Activism Technology in IT Tralee

Hope I'm not help pay for that course, or is that a total misnomer

sheesh

Covey wrote: »

Hope I'm not help pay for that course, or is that a total misnomer

So you don't mind paying for Terrorism Science arts Degree in Trinity but you belly ache about us culchies (sp?) having similar opportunities in the sticks

you sir are a snob!!!!

CabanSail

***MOD*** I have merged the two threads, as they are almost identical. Can we please try to keep this discussion related to Photography. Thanks

Covey

sheesh wrote: »

you sir are a snob!!!!

No I'm a Culchie, actually :pac: