Brave and intelligent Police deal with spotter in discrete and sensible way....er NOT

[Skipness One Echo]

Innocent trainspotter suspected of being a terrorist by police after taking photos of trains near oil refinery | Mail Online

Train spotting but have had a similar experience when being interrogated by the local plods at certain airports. It's depressingly predictable that our own people are now so igonorant.

[Avitor]

The government have passed anti terror laws. I suppose it is all about how they are implimented.

[Dop]

Another example of the police overstepping their own rules, and the continuing persecution of innocent photographers. Still, it's easier than going after actual criminals, isn't it?

Amateur Photographer: The new guidelines also tell police that sections 43 and 44 of the Terrorism Act do not prohibit the taking of photographs, film or digital images in an authorised area, and that members of the public and the press should not be prevented from doing so.
It states that police stop and search powers should be used 'proportionately and not specifically target photographers'.

Not A Crime: Police routinely invoke anti-terror legislation to prevent photographers from carrying out their work, and photojournalists are constantly filmed at public gatherings and their details kept on an ever-growing database. Tourists, particularly foreign tourists, are also targeted by police, as was the case with an Austrian father and son recently who made the mistake of photographing a building of an extremely sensitive nature—Walthamstow bus station.
Put simply, Britain has become a no-photo zone, and so if you fail to comply, you may find yourself liable to attack, arrest or harassment. Recognising that Britain is not the only country where such a draconian anti-photographer culture is developing, the British Journal of Photography is beginning an international visual campaign to raise awareness.


I'm a photographer, not a terrorist: Photography is under attack. Across the country it that seems anyone with a camera is being targeted as a potential terrorist, whether amateur or professional, whether landscape, architectural or street photographer.


Home Office Circular: mportant: Section 44 does not prohibit the taking of photographs, film or digital images in an authorised area and members of the public and the press should not be prevented from doing so in exercise of the powers conferred by section 44.
...
Officers do not have the power to delete images or destroy film.

Oh, and just to further illustrate hypocrisy... Police Officer caught taking pictures.

[Gulf4uk]

Children

hi

Add to the no no taking here .

Taking Pictures where children are also seems to be on the HIT list even
if they are yours You may get arrested i know of one person who was in
a crowd of people taking pictures from the crowd area of an Airshow
plod arrested him and marched him away for possible taking pictures
of children . At any show or on the beach or any crowd this over reaction
seems to be growing. simple Fix Get a bigger lens and stand at least a mile
from anywhere where any human being or Alien might be

Tony

[Avman]

Quite simply, PARANOIA! The terrorists are winning their campaign of intimidation thanks to the morons who inhabit this planet.

[CHINOOKER]

This scenario is getting all too familiar nowadays with the Police attitude to anyone with cameras etc,getting a bit OTT. Some months back,i was with two mates on the south side of the A40 at the end of R25 at Northolt,photographing the USAF C17s departing that had accompanied Obama's visit. Just as the first one had taken off we noticed a police car zooming westbound in the fast lane,with the copper in the pax seat giving us the eyeball....about two minutes later the same vehicle passed us by eastbound in the fast lane,(all lights/sirens blazing),with now both occupants giving us the eyeball....about a minute later,they had returned westbound and had pulled up alongside us and began to question why we were there,and why we were interested in photographing the "bomber plane",(i kid you not!),that had departed as they first went by. After some discussion, during which we showed them the images we had,(and pointed out that what they thought were bombs,were actually the C17s engines),we were politely told to move on and not return to this position....if we did we would be arrested under said anti-terrorism laws. Not wishing to cause ourselves any problems,we walked off toward the slip road to Hillingdon,then turned into the field and sat there,totally unhindered for the rest of the day
Sadly,nowadays there doesn't seem to be much that this idiotic law doesn't include,wether it be buildings/trains/planes/people etc!......If you photograph soldiers on ceremonial duties,(changing of the guard/trooping the colour etc),you can fall foul of this law!. Being a nation where we pride ourselves on both history and ceremony i beg to wonder what impact a "heavy handed" approach in implementing this law may have to future tourism!!...only time will tell.

[Gulf4uk]

ID

As already said on earlier thread plod has now introduced ID schemes
at various Airfields with all your details although i have never been
asked for mine Here at FAB but loads have .

On A similer thing carrying your UK Driving licience or birth certificate
maynot be enough . I Was asked for my Passport when trying to collect a package but as i told the person i dont have or need one .
NO PASSPORT NO PACKAGE.
Showing my licience and birth certificate NO . showed also the much
requested UTILITY BILLS no way NO PASSPORT Cannot deal with you.

Tony

[Skipness One Echo]

In all honesty the Police often come across as hopeless troop of big thickos, unable to comprehend the powers they are given and work within the sensible guidelines which DO exist. There used to be honest and on the spot policing around airports where the airport police knew the faces of the local spotters and where they went. Now we just tend to see PC Rambo in his 4x4.

Nowadays they have all sorts of local ID card schemes which any terrorist can join and the point of which escapes me as they are not recognised outside of that airfield.

A meaningless exercise in "security theatre" where someone is seen to be "doing something".
I despair sometimes at how we are sleepwalking into a CCTV / Police state. The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.

[simonchowder]

TBH i think they have very good reason to regard any adult who spends his leisure time on a draughty platform or rain lashed airport car park roof jotting down reg numbers from aeroplanes or locomotives with great suspicion.

[BarbiesBoyfriend]

Best to remember, when dealing with the Police, that most of them are quite dense.

If you bear this in mind during any encounter, it'll make their actions easier to understand.

[Ian Brooks]

Like anyone going to a football match or hitting a ball with a stick in a large field
I suppose the best idea is for us to sit at home with our computers when we can be
tracked as what we are looking at by the government
Very very sad really anyway better get back to collecting my copies of Beano NOT


Ian B

[Gulf4uk]

where ever you are whatever you are doing BIG BROTHER is watching
so give him a wave and sod em all . Each to there own Am in my shed
big pair of bins watching all that flies by .

tony

[JEM60]

In a slight defence of the Police, firstly I think you will find that the entry examination rules out 'thicko's', and, secondly, when you are driving past in a Police car, how do you determine whether the spotter is a terrorist, or just a spotter. Remember that it IS their job to be suspicious, and, from their point of view, how do you know the spotter is not a terrorist in disguise obtaining information. Look at the problem from both sides, not just ours. Terrorists do obtain information from observing near airports, and, whether the Police do it well or not, they are looking after your and the country's interest, so not too much knocking of them. It seems to me that they are damned if they check you, and damned for not doing their job if they don't, and something results from their lack of action.
I have no connection with the Police incidentally I am just an Aviation person.

[JEM60]

Perhaps those who arte critical of the Police action re aircraft would do well to read the 'Threat to Shuttleworth Aircraft]' in Aviation History and Nostalgia on this site. There are some strange people around, so be tolerant.!!

[Gulf4uk]

It would not be so bad if the police were consistant in what they
do .I fully assist the police as we all should if requested but its
never the same ideas or reasons they seem to stop you For
If somone makes a complaint or suggests something suspicious
they must Attend but then use there common sense when they
do and not go blundering on when its easy to see nothing is
amiss at shows and on beaches airports most people carry
and use a camera its not easy or polite to tell everyone to get
out of the Way or dont Move incase there little child gets
in the Shot All we ask is use common sense Both ways
Us and them.

TONY

[donnlass]

Unless you are a Google Street photography car then you can take pics anywhere!!

[donnlass]

Talking of paranoia. Wanted to take a pic of the Ryanair plane we had just flown in on to Dublin. When we asked permission you would think we had asked to shoot it or something.

They were down on us very sharpish and if the camera had worked they would have taken it off us for sure.

[PaperTiger]

how do you determine whether the spotter is a terrorist, or just a spotter?

Common sense and experience; both in very short supply among police forces. Hint: someone standing in plain sight with a bl..dy great lens is most unlikely to be a terrorist and even more unikely to shoot down that plane with his camera.

Is bjcc still with us ?

[Avman]

JEM60, I agree with what you say re the police side of things, and I have no problems whatsoever if police want to check me out. Having done so, I expect to be allowed to continue with my activities (as long as they are legal and carried out from an unrestricted public area). The problem comes when the odd bored cop wants to play silly buggers and tries to move you along for no valid reason. Thankfully, they are a minority, but it can be frustrating.

[Gulf4uk]

someone standing in plain sight with a bl..dy great lens is most unlikely to be a terrorist and even more unikely to shoot down that plane with his camera
=========================================================

Well explain why a fisherman fishing in the canal near the perimeter was searched his kit searched Rod bags emptied and checked .
Given reason his rod bag could contain a SAM .

Tony