Taking photos in an airport security zone
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Lincoln, England
Taking photos in an airport security zone
The Daily Wail has a couple of pictures of someone called Cheryl Cole (otherwise known I believe as a WAG) being frisked at Heathrow. Every airport security zone I have been through is surrounded by notices banning photography.
Are journalists exempted from this rule?
What would happen to me if I suddenly started photographing in that area?
Are journalists exempted from this rule?
What would happen to me if I suddenly started photographing in that area?
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,415
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From: Europe
I have a large number of pictures in my Blackberry to illustrate my pet hate, the worse-than-third-world conditions that passengers are subjected to in certain BAA airports as they approach Immigration on arrival, including T4 and Gatwick.
They are all taken in among the scaffolding and plastic, and show heaving crowds in those ill-lit hell-holes.
The only problem is that I disable the flash to avoid drawing too much attention, and so the quality is poor due to the appalling lighting. But they get the point across, and I'm saving them up for a report in the Press.
So fire away, old chap. Just don't be too obvious. Especially around Security.
Remember that like all bans on individual freedoms, it has nothing to do with security, peoples' feelings or any of the other excuses. It is too avoid the exposure and embarrassment that would follow.
BTW, it's always helpful to have an old u/s camera or phone to hand over if confronted.
They are all taken in among the scaffolding and plastic, and show heaving crowds in those ill-lit hell-holes.
The only problem is that I disable the flash to avoid drawing too much attention, and so the quality is poor due to the appalling lighting. But they get the point across, and I'm saving them up for a report in the Press.
So fire away, old chap. Just don't be too obvious. Especially around Security.
Remember that like all bans on individual freedoms, it has nothing to do with security, peoples' feelings or any of the other excuses. It is too avoid the exposure and embarrassment that would follow.
BTW, it's always helpful to have an old u/s camera or phone to hand over if confronted.
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Scotland
And you don't think BAA have actually noticed how cruddy their airports are? I'm sure they will be enlightened when they get you photos.
They might also like you name and address so that they can alert the authorities that you have been taking photographs without permission in restricted areas.
I like your style. It is entirely conceivable that a security plod wouldn't twig the broken old camera phone trick - genius!
( avman, you might just have to work out whether this is Irony or not?)
They might also like you name and address so that they can alert the authorities that you have been taking photographs without permission in restricted areas.
I like your style. It is entirely conceivable that a security plod wouldn't twig the broken old camera phone trick - genius!
( avman, you might just have to work out whether this is Irony or not?)
Joined: May 2002
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From: LGW - Hub of the Universe!
BTW, it's always helpful to have an old u/s camera or phone to hand over if confronted.
In fact, Britian is one of the more tolerant nations - here we will only destroy the camera and possibly fine you a couple of hundred quid. In Greece, you could go to jail for five years (as plane spotters found out a few years ago) as indeed you could in Middle East countries - and if they thought you were spying, you may even cop the death penalty!
You may feel aggrieved by the state of T4 and Gatwick, but please be very careful if any staff members faces appear in your pictures that you send for publication. Airport staff are protected by by-laws and unwittingly identifying someone, whose personal safety might be compromised, could lead to criminal prosecution.
Oh dear! My post seems a bit hostile - it isn't meant to be! God knows that T5 is the only London Airport building at the moment that is anywhere close to decent! All I am asking is that you heed a bit of friendly advice!
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: London UK
It is completely disingenuous for an organisation like BAA to fail to provide effective security procedures for the quantity of passengers being processed (including T5 every time I have gone through the place), and then when this is highlighted in the media to get all uppity about any photographs taken of the nonsenses.
If they were REALLY concerned about keeping their procedures in security free from prying eyes they would arrange it so there were not hundreds of passengers all pressed together taking 20 minutes or more to absorb the whole experience. But that would cost money to organise it all properly, and spending less and less money is something BAA give more attention to than anything else. Including effective security.
If they were REALLY concerned about keeping their procedures in security free from prying eyes they would arrange it so there were not hundreds of passengers all pressed together taking 20 minutes or more to absorb the whole experience. But that would cost money to organise it all properly, and spending less and less money is something BAA give more attention to than anything else. Including effective security.
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
Airport staff are protected by by-laws
your camera may be confiscated and destroyed if pictures are taken anywhere on the airport premises.
Joined: May 2007
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From: Europe
Bealine
Thank you for your advice.....
Byelaws are not among the best understood legal instruments, and I wonder which ones, exactly, you have in mind?
For example, which are the relevant byelaws for protecting staff at LGW?
Do they apply to protection of all airport staff, or just a few lucky categories?
And what, very precisely, are they protected against, by these byelaws?
A link would be helpful................
Strangely enough, while Luton publishes its Byelaws on its website, as do several others, presumably so that people can find out what they may not do, I cannot find the same for any BAA airport. Are they Top Secret? Byelaws that no-one is allowed to know about are not enforceable.
Incidently, Conditions of Use are not Byelaws.
At Luton, you'll be relieved to hear, there is no Byelaw about the protection of staff, and I confess I'm not all that surprised. There is no prohibition on non-commercial photograhy either, although......
No person shall, in the course of business, take photographs or participate in filming or sound recording at the airport without permission.
So the question remains, which Byelaws are you quoting?
Thank you for your advice.....
Airport staff are protected by by-laws
For example, which are the relevant byelaws for protecting staff at LGW?
Do they apply to protection of all airport staff, or just a few lucky categories?
And what, very precisely, are they protected against, by these byelaws?
A link would be helpful................
Strangely enough, while Luton publishes its Byelaws on its website, as do several others, presumably so that people can find out what they may not do, I cannot find the same for any BAA airport. Are they Top Secret? Byelaws that no-one is allowed to know about are not enforceable.
Incidently, Conditions of Use are not Byelaws.
At Luton, you'll be relieved to hear, there is no Byelaw about the protection of staff, and I confess I'm not all that surprised. There is no prohibition on non-commercial photograhy either, although......
No person shall, in the course of business, take photographs or participate in filming or sound recording at the airport without permission.
So the question remains, which Byelaws are you quoting?
Last edited by Capot; 15th June 2009 at 17:44.
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 112
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From: oxfordshire
That is sound advice for, quaint though it may seem, your camera may be confiscated and destroyed if pictures are taken anywhere on the airport premises.
In fact, Britian is one of the more tolerant nations - here we will only destroy the camera and possibly fine you a couple of hundred quid. In Greece, you could go to jail for five years (as plane spotters found out a few years ago) as indeed you could in Middle East countries - and if they thought you were spying, you may even cop the death penalty!
You may feel aggrieved by the state of T4 and Gatwick, but please be very careful if any staff members faces appear in your pictures that you send for publication. Airport staff are protected by by-laws and unwittingly identifying someone, whose personal safety might be compromised, could lead to criminal prosecution.
Oh dear! My post seems a bit hostile - it isn't meant to be! God knows that T5 is the only London Airport building at the moment that is anywhere close to decent! All I am asking is that you heed a bit of friendly advice!
In fact, Britian is one of the more tolerant nations - here we will only destroy the camera and possibly fine you a couple of hundred quid. In Greece, you could go to jail for five years (as plane spotters found out a few years ago) as indeed you could in Middle East countries - and if they thought you were spying, you may even cop the death penalty!
You may feel aggrieved by the state of T4 and Gatwick, but please be very careful if any staff members faces appear in your pictures that you send for publication. Airport staff are protected by by-laws and unwittingly identifying someone, whose personal safety might be compromised, could lead to criminal prosecution.
Oh dear! My post seems a bit hostile - it isn't meant to be! God knows that T5 is the only London Airport building at the moment that is anywhere close to decent! All I am asking is that you heed a bit of friendly advice!
What a load of rubbish. I guess you work in security at LGW. Please be advised you have no right to remove property from somebody and doing so against their will would be theft. If you are a police officer I hope you issue them a receipt and do it in accordance with law and if it comes to court the CPS will ask for a seizure and destruction order if they want to. If I was presiding I doubt I would grant it and I have granted such things for other matters. The photos on the camera are also the property of the person concerned and if you delete them you will be open to a charge of criminal damage. Bye-laws do not override the laws of the country. I despair when I read things like this.
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Down south
A copy of airport byelaws is normally available on request from the Airport management (check the warning signs for details). These will inform you which staff members have the authority to do what, such as stop or search. I think you wil find the powers of BAA staff are quite limited, but they can just watch you whilst plod attends, and of course Plod has lots of powers to spoil your day.
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Lincoln, England
My point with starting this thread was to query whether ANYONE is permitted to take photographs in the security zone at an airport. I personally have no wish to do so, and I can understand that precautions may be necessary to prevent disclosure of procedures, etc. in the zone.
I am just very surprised to see such pictures in the media, not to mention the fact that in my own opinion this was a breach of personal privacy.
In other words, could action be taken against the newspaper or the picture agency that provided the photos, not to mention the photographer? Either by the "authorities" or the legal representative of the passenger concerned.
Again personally, I would be upset, but then I am a nobody! Some people enjoy having their pictures in the papers.
I am just very surprised to see such pictures in the media, not to mention the fact that in my own opinion this was a breach of personal privacy.
In other words, could action be taken against the newspaper or the picture agency that provided the photos, not to mention the photographer? Either by the "authorities" or the legal representative of the passenger concerned.
Again personally, I would be upset, but then I am a nobody! Some people enjoy having their pictures in the papers.
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: oxfordshire
The 'Restricted Zone' at the airport covers the whole place 'airside'. I would hazard a guess that a few hundered thousand photos are taken by the 70 million odd passengers/tourists passing through LHR every year with no ill effects. It is not an offence in the UK to take a photo of somebody without their permission even if they don't like it and it is a bit rude. No offence though. There is a new offence of taking a photo of a police officer that could be used for 'terrorist purposes'.
Joined: May 2008
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From: UK
If you can't take photos within the Restricted Zone, which indeed covers the entire airside area (shopping mall, ramp etc) then why do so many people manage to legally snap photos of aircraft, ramp movements... Things like the inside of T5 etc etc etc...
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,173
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From: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
The BAA Airport Byelaws ( specific to each airport, a different set for each ! ) used to be prominently displayed at Prestwick and Glasgow in Times Past.
btw Google rocks !
http://www.met.police.uk/foi/pdfs/ot...nformation.pdf
btw Google rocks !
http://www.met.police.uk/foi/pdfs/ot...nformation.pdf
FX Guru
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 901
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From: Greenwich
A mate of mine took a picture of a train going over a railway bridge in what was then Yugoslavia.
Plod had chat with him and invited him to assist with their enquiries. He didn't get his camera back but his arm healed quite well and apparently the British diplomatic staff were excellent.
Seeing cameras brings out the worst in a lot of authoritarian figures.
Plod had chat with him and invited him to assist with their enquiries. He didn't get his camera back but his arm healed quite well and apparently the British diplomatic staff were excellent.
Seeing cameras brings out the worst in a lot of authoritarian figures.
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 978
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From: LGW - Hub of the Universe!
What a load of rubbish. I guess you work in security at LGW. Please be advised you have no right to remove property from somebody and doing so against their will would be theft. If you are a police officer I hope you issue them a receipt and do it in accordance with law and if it comes to court the CPS will ask for a seizure and destruction order if they want to. If I was presiding I doubt I would grant it and I have granted such things for other matters. The photos on the camera are also the property of the person concerned and if you delete them you will be open to a charge of criminal damage. Bye-laws do not override the laws of the country. I despair when I read things like this
Congratulations, hotmetal, you reminded me of the reason why I stopped posting on this forum and on F****talk, and why so many of my colleagues can't be bothered either! If it floats your boat, just you go right ahead and ignore friendly advice - but don't attack those who try to help!
FYI I do not work in security and I no longer work at LGW.
All people in the UK have the right NOT to be photographed against their wishes. This is enforceable at airports and this poster has witnessed cameras confiscated through the objections of celebrities - although some seem to welcome giving photo opportunities for their fans! Airports are treated as special "Restricted Areas":
1. Photographing Security Areas or HM Customs controlled areas is expressly forbidden.
2. Under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, photographing airport staff or secure areas is illegal and may result in being held in custody for up to 60 days without charge.
3. Identifying airport security staff or airline staff in the press may make them, or their families, vulnerable to kidnap or being held hostage in order for terrorist organisations to gain access to secure areas or to force a staff member to smuggle weapons / devices into secxure areas or on to an aeroplane. (Such things are not in the realms of fantasy - these sort of events happened during the "troubles" in Northern Ireland.)
I do not profess to know the law backwards, but we are living in times where tourists have been imprisoned for photographing London buses and we have to have a sense of responsibility.
....and, for your information, it is not security staff or airline staff who confiscate equipment. We merely request a police presence. The police officers will usually question the offender, establish identity and confiscate the equipment, bagging it and receipting it properly, to await a court appearance. (Of course, in the UK, a court hearing can be anything up to a year after the incident - and even then, possibly adjourned to "await reports"!
Last edited by bealine; 16th June 2009 at 10:00.
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: London
Those Cheryl Cole pictures
Nobody broke any law, by-law or pettifogging rules when Cheryl Cole's picture was taken. There is a properly accredited news and picture agency operating at Heathrow and their reporters and photographers are free to work within the boundaries laid down by BAA - namely that (a) security is not compromised; (b) specialist staff (police, immigration, customs etc) are not identified in close-up pictures or by name and (c) passengers who can be identified in a shot must give their permission.
Cheryl Cole had agreed to be photographed, and in fact was escorted through security and into the departure gate by the journalists.
Apart from newspaper photographs, don't forget the camera crews operating with impunity in programmes like Airport and Airline
When they film confrontations between passengers and staff (as in the wearingly familiar Easyjet stand-offs), everyone involved is asked to sign a release form afterwards. Those who decline have their faces blurred.
Cheryl Cole had agreed to be photographed, and in fact was escorted through security and into the departure gate by the journalists.
Apart from newspaper photographs, don't forget the camera crews operating with impunity in programmes like Airport and Airline
When they film confrontations between passengers and staff (as in the wearingly familiar Easyjet stand-offs), everyone involved is asked to sign a release form afterwards. Those who decline have their faces blurred.