http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2008/04/youve_been_framed.shtml en-gb 30 Mon 21 Dec 2009 16:17:49 GMT+1 A feed of user comments from the page found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2008/04/youve_been_framed.shtml http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2008/04/youve_been_framed.shtml?page=17#comment8 I've also been "questioned" when taking photographs... last year while taking photographs of a new shopping centre under construction in Corby - sat on a bicycle on a public right of way - I was asked by somebody in a hard hat what I was doing and why.I also know somebody who had a similar experience in Hull a couple of years ago while taking photos in the city centre, the same day we were both attending an Ice Hockey game at the local rink and we were told that photography was not allowed due to "concerns about child abuse"... funny thing is that this was an adult game! Mon 23 Jun 2008 15:39:14 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2008/04/youve_been_framed.shtml?page=15#comment7 I have been stopped twice when I have been using my camera in public. The first time was in 2005 when Iwas attempting to photograph a rather stunning sunrise from my seat on the train between Basingstoke and Waterloo. The conductor ran down the carriage and ordered me to stop, then told me he was confiscating my camera as it was illegal to take photographs from trains. I refused to give him my camera and asked exactly which part of the law stated that. He could not answer this, but became physically aggressive and tried to grab my camera. At this point two men in the carriage told him he was being an unreasonable idiot and to leave me alone. There was a very unpleasant argument and he finally left, threatening me with arrest by the British Transport police at Waterloo (this did not happen) as I was apparently a 'risk' to national security.The second was last year in the city of London, where I was approached by someone who claimed to be a security guard from a building that I had just photographed. This man was not in uniform and had no identification to confirm his claim. He attempted to confiscate my camera as well. I explained that I had been photographing an architecturally interesting building and made it very clear that I knew the law and my rights, and if he attempted to touch me that would be a physical assault and taking my camera would be theft. He lfinally walked away muttering 'well don't do it again without asking my permission first'.Anecdotal I know, but all true. Mon 23 Jun 2008 12:51:58 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2008/04/youve_been_framed.shtml?page=13#comment6 I see that Chris Austin, MP, is trying to get a "delegation" of photographers in to meet Tony McNulty, the Home Office Minister, to press for photographers rights to take pictures in public places unchallenged by the Police. Tue 29 Apr 2008 17:02:57 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2008/04/youve_been_framed.shtml?page=11#comment5 Last month I saw two community police officers stop a young woman outside the Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank and make her produce identification. It was night time and her camera was mounted on a short tripod, pointed in the direction of Hungerford bridge, with the London Eye in the background. She was a tourist and seemed shocked by what was happening. I asked them what she was doing wrong - and said she deserved to be able to take pictures in public unmolested. One of the officers used terrorism legislation to justify his actions and said the area was "high security". However, when pressed, he said that the woman needed to be approached "for her protection" because she was "vulnerable" and was using expensive equipment in public. So it seems she had strangely metamorphosed from a potential terrorist to a damsel in distress. I asked the officers if they'd been instructed to stop all people using cameras on tripods and they said no, they used their discretion. Sat 26 Apr 2008 21:42:19 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2008/04/youve_been_framed.shtml?page=8#comment4 Sorry, last line of my post should have said not - NOT illegal. Sat 26 Apr 2008 18:08:14 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2008/04/youve_been_framed.shtml?page=6#comment3 But Briggate, why does one have to explain 'a more serious interest in picture taking'? Why can't we just take photos for no reason in particular other than the joy of taking them? Like going for a drive nowhere in particular... Sat 26 Apr 2008 17:46:19 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2008/04/youve_been_framed.shtml?page=4#comment2 I have been taking photographs for more than 40 years. I am a keen photographer of railways - I'm interested in them and its what I do for a job. About three months ago I was taking a photograph and was approached by a member of staff and asked to stop taking photographs. I'm clued up on the why's and wherefore's of this and politely told the person that I was doing it for interest, I could prove who I was and that I was doing it safely and without affecting any operations or safety of the railway or the station, I would be happy to sign any safety disclaimer if I was pointed in the direction of the administration. I also indicated that the train operating companies and Network Rail had indicated it wasn't a problem widely after 9/11 and other incidents.They indicated that it was a security concern. OK I give up - if it keeps you happy I'll stop taking here and go elsewhere - which I did.The said staff member might have been a bit of a "jobsworth" but it could equally have been a real security concern. If so someone alert with a camera could have provided valuable evidence if an incident had happened. I suspect that they had received little or no training. The ad is creating a false paranoia and confusion among ill-trained staff.The matter needs to be kept high so that it filters down that photography is illegal and photography is allowed. Sat 26 Apr 2008 17:07:41 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2008/04/youve_been_framed.shtml?page=2#comment1 I blogged about this subject and someone commented: "Austin Mitchell is my local MP and if you saw the way in which he took his pictures you would object too..." (see the full comment on http://www.grannybuttons.com/granny_buttons/2008/04/mps-edm-for-fre.html#comment-111329812 ) The upshot, he implied, was that Austin M is a bad spokesman for the right to photograph in public. Thu 24 Apr 2008 13:12:52 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2008/04/youve_been_framed.shtml?page=0#comment0 There is a tendency on the part of photographers to indulge in a us VS. them mentality. The rights of UK citizens and the comparative moderation (and community orientation) of UK police are (rightly) the envy of people from many countries across the globe. Photographers need to show a proper respect for authorities --- which means accepting that they need to engage with authority figures, be prepared to explain their activities and so on. Millions of tourists and youngsters with mobile phones are taking photos in public places. The people who are going to attract the attention of the authorities are those who show display a kind of interest in picture taking that goes beyond the casual and frivolous. If one has a more serious interest in picture taking one ought to be prepared to give an account of this interest.If one were observing others for purposes of poetry or fiction no clash of interest could arise. The power of modern image-recording devices --- digital cameras and video recorders --- means that ones observations have potentially more serious outcomes. One needs to square up to the responsibility that goes with that new power and be prepared to give an account of oneself. I have had several encounters with the police and community support officers. By far the majority of these have been positive encounters ... with only one or two that were initially a bit uncomfortable. I am quite well known to several of my local police and other authorities after carrying out an 18-month project in the city centre (documented at www.briggate.com). But I have really grown to appreciate the role of the police and other security personnel (bouncers, mainly) during the last 9 months documenting night life on the streets of Leeds (see http://headrow.wordpress.com Wed 23 Apr 2008 22:59:31 GMT+1