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Join Date: Sep 2007
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Taking photos of police officers could be considered a crime
The British Journal of Photography has reported that 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'.
This is awful! Completely ridiculous that any 'terrorist' would want to take photos of a policemen! 
They think its fine to send a camera crew with 'cops on the streets' filming members of the public get arrested and what not, but it's not ok for members of the public to take photos of the police?
Source
Quote:
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 Vallée.
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 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 Vallée.
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.
They think its fine to send a camera crew with 'cops on the streets' filming members of the public get arrested and what not, but it's not ok for members of the public to take photos of the police?
Source
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Well what happens if you inadvertently take a picture of a police officers? gee where is all this political correctness gonna end!
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More like a draconian police state! It's actually quite worrying 
There's already a law to protect 'items of national security' like power stations etc, so really don't see why this is needed.
There's already a law to protect 'items of national security' like power stations etc, so really don't see why this is needed.
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While annoying, they could arrest you blah blah, but at the end of the day, if they have no proof you can sue them for wrongful arrest, while I am sure there will be some police 'persons' that act like idiots, most of the police (the more seasoned ones) will not be bothered, as they don't want the hassle any more that anyone else.
Also, if the station gets a run on 'tugged togs' then the station superiors will get upset because arresting photographers wont fill their 'quotas' (burgulars, motorists etc)
The law might change, but let's face it, it will be life as normal for 99% of us. That guy that took the photo during the riot would have been targeted irrespective of the law because he probably photographed something that the copper didn't want to be made public
Also, if the station gets a run on 'tugged togs' then the station superiors will get upset because arresting photographers wont fill their 'quotas' (burgulars, motorists etc)
The law might change, but let's face it, it will be life as normal for 99% of us. That guy that took the photo during the riot would have been targeted irrespective of the law because he probably photographed something that the copper didn't want to be made public
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WildWalker
That guy that took the photo during the riot would have been targeted irrespective of the law because he probably photographed something that the copper didn't want to be made public
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Well I'm all in support of catching criminals and dealing with those 'up to something', but there are an increasing number of overt and covertly introduced infringements on your civil liberties. Unbeliveable.
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ugh. don't get me started on the pigs. i have practically no respect for british police officers (plenty of reason for that by the way 
particularly the south wales mob). disgusting creatures.
thank god the police in ireland have brains, and aren't just criminals who couldn't make it!!
xx
particularly the south wales mob). disgusting creatures.thank god the police in ireland have brains, and aren't just criminals who couldn't make it!!
xx
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They're not all the same mind Z so I don't think it's fair/nice to call them names or tar them all with the same brush. My nephew is a police office, as is one of our members
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my apologies.. though it still stands for swansea lot never met a nice one yet!
xx
never met a nice one yet!xx
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Sorry Zoundz I can't agree with what you are saying about 'all' police officers and have a lot of respect for most of them and what they have to do. I know many and deal with them professionally and personally. Of course there are all sorts of individuals, personalities, systems and processes within the police system that I may have a particular opinion on like anyone.
However I do have strong feelings about police powers, collection of personal information and surveillance. On that point I don't trust the government one bit nor any of the authorities that collect or use the information. The police and other authorities use fear of terrorism and crime to obtain more and more powers and increasingly have linked up systems and surveillance that they can use. There are also increasing rules regarding public order etc. However at the same time the government happily allow anyone including all manner of organised crime into the country, terrorists and their families happily reside here and let criminals out of jail because they are too full. I can't respect that.
However I do have strong feelings about police powers, collection of personal information and surveillance. On that point I don't trust the government one bit nor any of the authorities that collect or use the information. The police and other authorities use fear of terrorism and crime to obtain more and more powers and increasingly have linked up systems and surveillance that they can use. There are also increasing rules regarding public order etc. However at the same time the government happily allow anyone including all manner of organised crime into the country, terrorists and their families happily reside here and let criminals out of jail because they are too full. I can't respect that.