Once again a photographer has been subjected to harassment purely because he is going about the business of his hobby – taking pictures. Latest fiasco … HERE
It doesn’t seem to matter how much publicity is given to these incidents the message isn’t getting through. In this case Mike Evans was prevented from going about his lawful business under the guise of anti-terrorism laws.
The regulations, under sections 43 and 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 – state there is “no restriction on people taking photographs in public places or of any building other than in very exceptional circumstances”.
I carry a copy of the regulations whenever I am out with my cameras but it is probably a waste of time if Mr Evans experience is anything to go by. He was also carrying a copy of the regulations but found that the jobs-worths at the Liverpool Echo Arena chose to ignore them.
So where does that leave the poor photographer who is rapidly becoming one of societies pariahs ?
Well things have come to a bit of a head, to the point where several hundreds of photographers, both professional and amateur, gathered to protest the misuse of official powers…. (See Here)
It’s not only anti terrorism that is cited as reason to prevent photographers from taking pictures. Every snapper risks being accused of other nefarious crimes.
Take the experience of Betty Robinson who was told she couldn’t take pictures of an empty paddling pool because, according to a Southampton Council Official, she might be a paedophile !!! (Story here)
Well I have a thought. Surely coarse fishermen are much more suspicious. After all they also carry bags packed with all manner of strange objects and they carry long cylindrical bags full of tubes perhaps packed with plastic explosive. Don’t they wear camouflage clothes and creep around hiding in the bushes. I wonder how many anglers have been stopped under anti terrorism laws ?
Should all amateur snappers have to be licenced like the coarse fishermen have to have a rod licence. There really is no point if the so-called authorities then ignore the regs that they claim to be enforcing.
At least your average photographer is standing out in the open, quite blatant. Well except the wild life photographers, twitchers in particular. But then that’s the subject of future post perhaps.
WrAnTz 