Taking pictures in the UK

piskins72

Hi All

I just want to put a general question out to photographers here on this forum in regards to the media attention in the UK at the moment about the police stopping people taking pictures, in the past week there has been numerous articles in the papers about it.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/6715886/Police-misusing-anti-terrorism-powers-to-stop-tourists-taking-photos.html

Has anyone come across similar issues here or had experience of the UK way of doing things?

cheers

Paulw

Nothing new about the UK. Sure it's a police state.

Not nearly as bad here in Ireland, thankfully. We're not nearly as paranoid.

Fajitas!

Era, there's a lot of hype about it. And people being dicks.

Most cops don't mind at all. If they come over to you, don't be a dick, just give them your ID, they'll fill out a 'Stop And Account' form, which while it might seem a big deal when you're used to the Gardai, it really isn't. You don't have to have any forms of ID, or give them an address, but it'll make life easier if you just hand them over and talk to them politely. They're used to people being spanners all day, so will appreciate some manners.

A few months in the UK and you'll have a collection of Stop & Accounts.

On the flipside of the coin, a lot of the cops are a good laugh, and a smile and courtesy will get you far - I've gotten in places I shouldn't have because of it, and gotten snaps I'd never have gotten.

If you want to read up your rights, there's a few websites relating to it, including sheets you can print out and hand to the cops instead of talking to them. It's a one way street to getting yourself in sh*te, and tbh, the people that DO get in a spot of bother are the ones who act up.

denat

The Telegraph is an extremely right-wing paper that loves to highlight and amplify any example of state or eu control they can find. I wouldn't pay too much attention to their reporting of this subject.

Having said that, I buy it most Saturdays and make allowances for their dislike of most foreigners, especially the Irish, and their exaggeration described above.

IMO Telegraph is good for nature/countryside/science reporting but always allow for their biases.

Simplicius

denat wrote: »

The Telegraph is an extremely right-wing paper that loves to highlight and amplify any example of state or eu control they can find. I wouldn't pay too much attention to their reporting of this subject.

Interestingly enough, I came on here to share the front page of today's London Independent ..which is on this very subject... now this paper would hardly fall under the same wing as the Telegraph.... for me all this stuff is just more reasons not to bother visiting the UK

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/warning-do-not-take-this-picture-1833127.html#

ColmDawson

This "short UK guide to the main legal restrictions on the right to take photographs and the right to publish photographs that have been taken" may be of use to you.

Covey

Fajitas! wrote: »

Era, there's a lot of hype about it. And people being dicks.

Most cops don't mind at all. If they come over to you, don't be a dick, just give them your ID, they'll fill out a 'Stop And Account' form, which while it might seem a big deal when you're used to the Gardai, it really isn't. You don't have to have any forms of ID, or give them an address, but it'll make life easier if you just hand them over and talk to them politely. They're used to people being spanners all day, so will appreciate some manners.

A few months in the UK and you'll have a collection of Stop & Accounts.

On the flipside of the coin, a lot of the cops are a good laugh, and a smile and courtesy will get you far - I've gotten in places I shouldn't have because of it, and gotten snaps I'd never have gotten.

If you want to read up your rights, there's a few websites relating to it, including sheets you can print out and hand to the cops instead of talking to them. It's a one way street to getting yourself in sh*te, and tbh, the people that DO get in a spot of bother are the ones who act up.

I know you're on the ground so to speak Fajitas and what you say is right to an extent, i.e. it's an inconvenience and not the end of the world.

However, there is a wider issue that pertains in the UK and that is the further use of this information. I would be slightly concerned tbh.

Regarding the OP referring to Ireland, none of this at all really. Much more cop on here and I've even had the Gardai defend my right to take photos a couple of times.

Fajitas!

Actually, that happens quite a lot over in the UK too. There was two transport Met on a train, and a chap with a rangefinder took a photo. One asshat started shouting off about terrorism and people taking photos, trying to get yer man arrested.

Cops told the asshat to shut up and cop on, not to be trying to spread fear. The man had every right to take a photograph. They'll also acknowledge that it's no *flash* photography allowed on the tube, and allow non flash photography.

The further use 'thing' is a concern alright. Tbh, I've to research it more. It won't be a good thing by a long shot, but it depends on how your images are used.

K_user

I agree completely with Fajitas!

Most members of the police force don't give a d*mn if you are taking a photo. Its not worth the time, effort, or paperwork to say anything to you. They'll leave you alone as long as you aren't making an idiot of yourself, getting in peoples way, or taking photo's of something that you shouldn't be.

If they do stop to talk to you just be polite. Explain who you are and what you are doing. If they do have an objection then apologise and move on.

CabanSail

Fajitas! wrote: »

They'll also acknowledge that it's no *flash* photography allowed on the tube, and allow non flash photography.

The "No Flash" photography rule is actually a safety issue. It's so that the drivers on the tube are not blinded by a flash going off in their face, it would then stop them from being able to see ahead. I found this out from an encounter with a Transport Cop on the Underground last year. He accused me of taking photos with flash, but I wasn't using flash. He told me the information above, but in a much less polite way. I told him again I was not using flash & his reply was that it's no use lying & if I did it again he would "take things further". It was only later I realised that what he thought was my "flash" was in fact the AF Assist Light coming on (do Canon/other makes have them too?). So to avoid getting unwanted attention turn the AF Assist to OFF.

Fajitas!

Er... I know.

I was stating that photography is allowed, it's a common rumour that photography on the tube/train/bus in the UK is illegal, when it's not. In general, it's always advised to turn any lights off when you're dealing with transport - A distracted train driver really won't appreciate a flash popping off coming in to a station.

piskins72

Did any one see the Photographer and the Police representative been interviewed on BBC Breakfast this morning?

LeoB

I had no problems using flash in tube stations, mind you not when train was approaching. Got a few looks around the Gerkin and the Lloyds building but nobody said anything to me. Took quite a few around that "Palace" and not a word. I climed up a fence pillar to take a photo and all was fine.

I did see some cops being a bit thick with some tourists but most were fine. For the crack I asked one could I have a photo with her on her horse, (she was on the horse-I was standing beside the horse!) My poor wife was mortified but the Policewoman was really nice.

A bit of common sense

The Telegraph I wont comment on as I dont want a ban

LeoB

Few from London. Add your own comments;)
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4) The whole place was a circus if you ask me:)
[EMAIL="<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25899546@N03/4157628779/&quot; title="London 2009 Last day 122 by Leo Bissett, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2759/4157628779_8b86895cfc.jpg&quot; width="500" height="365" alt="London 2009 Last day 122" /></a>"][/EMAIL]

Fajitas!

Some of my own run ins with the services over there with my Polaroid;

Gentleman with the sword was on his way in to meet the Queen, who came out to him in a golf buggy (she wasn't driving :pac: ), the tourists were half cleared away from entrances, but the aul' charm of the Polaroid SX70 got me in right behind them (I ran out of film for the Queen though :-/. The Police office turned away smiling in the one one the right


After just pointing at the camera and a bit of a smile, I got this. You can see she's about to burst out laughing, which I quite like. Right beside Big Ben too!


The slightly decorated chap here was an absolute gent, and had no problem whatsoever with me taking his photo.

KarmaGarda

There is a very rare problem that some of the cops don't actually know the law in regards to photography. A friend of mine took a photograph of the fire brigade on public property and was told by a police man to delete it. He was well within his rights to take the photograph and it's against the law to ask you to delete the photograph.

On saying that, these types of incidents are actually very few and far between. Generally it's just a stop and account, see what you're photographing and why. That's it. I'd quite frankly rather them asking than sitting down and doing nothing. If they do happen to find that 1 bad egg, they've done their job. And to add to what Fajitas said, at the end of the day these are human beings just like us. Interact with them, a bit of banter and you'll get a much better reaction than people who will try give them a piece of their mind.

SinisterDexter

I believe the English over-reaction is due to terrorism fears, Joe Blogg is recorded taking photos of Big Ben, few months later Joe Blogg is noted associating with a terrorist group, geez where might they attack?

.Longshanks.

Here's the official line and to be honest it seems fairly clear
http://www.met.police.uk/about/photography.htm

Paulw

Interesting article -

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/police-uturn-on-photographers-and-antiterror-laws-1834626.html

Eirebear

Meh!

Fajtas is 100% correct, sometimes you get cops checking you out and asking what your up to but for the most part a friendly chat and a wee clarification of what your doing and why your doing it is enough for them.

Its jumped up security guards and clipboard carriers youve got to watch out for.

Fajitas!

Eirebear wrote: »

Fajtas is 100% correct, sometimes you get cops checking you out and asking what your up to

And I'd rather be stopped for 10 S&A's if it helped them catch one scumbag.

Its jumped up security guards and clipboard carriers youve got to watch out for.

Did you say something about the Buchanan Center? :pac:

Eirebear

Fajitas! wrote: »

Did you say something about the Buchanan Center? :pac:

lol, youve had problems there too then?

I was taking photos of the metalwork outside their carpark last week, from the pavement and i got pounced on by one of their security guys.
Madness!

Fajitas!

I'd swear they thought I was going to blow the place up. With my camera.

Eirebear

Fajitas! wrote: »

I'd swear they thought I was going to blow the place up. With my camera.

lol, a camera and an Irish accent....your definetly a target! :pac:

charybdis

Sudden outbreak of common sense.