Comments on: Is It Just Me, Or Are Things Getting Much Worse For Photographers in the UK?

By: hutchblog.com

hutchblog.com — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:19:00 +0000

it is getting worse as this news item shows – http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23518501-details/Man+accused+of+assault+after+taking+photos+of+hoodie+gang/article.do

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:02:00 +0000

There is an enormous fear of crime in general [and of pedophiles in particular] in England.

There is also a widespread lack of understanding of what rights photographers actually have – see current controversies over Google’s StreetView in the UK. [http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/latestnews/You-can39t-be-camera-shy.4297931.jp]

By: Stuart Grimshaw

Stuart Grimshaw — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:41:00 +0000

@thaumata: If you’re not a peado, you’re a terrorist

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7351252.stm see the enlarged version of the poster.

By: Thaumata

Thaumata — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:26:00 +0000

I’m in the process of moving to the UK and from what I’ve seen, this is less about photography in general and more about a really, really heightened concern about pedos compared to most americans I know. While it’s obviously something every parent fears, in the UK it’s a really massive issue and fear, to the point where I’ve heard guys say they’re scared to hug their kids in public.

I don’t know that you’d get even close to the same reaction if you were photographing adults in a similar public space.

By: mikewoodhouse

mikewoodhouse — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:11:00 +0000

Gary has already pointed out that the Mail's position is not always one of neutrality, although I do find it ironic that I'd have expected them to be more likely to take the "he must be a pervert" line.

Perhaps I've been maligning them unjustly.

Nah.

By: Stuart Grimshaw

Stuart Grimshaw — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:26:00 +0000

http://photorights.org/ is a good site to keep track of the steady erosion of photographers rights.

I’ve been called a pervert for taking photos of buildings, not even of people!!

By: Gary Denness

Gary Denness — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:23:00 +0000

I would say that anything printedin the UK's Mail should be taken with a pinch of salt. Not that the story itself is untrue, but they have a certain 'way' of reporting things. I'll bet there are isolated incidents like that the world over.

More worrying for me was a recent statement by the UK Home Secretary...

“Decisions may be made locally to restrict or monitor photography in reasonable circumstances. That is an operational decision for the officers involved based on the individual circumstances of each situation.....It is for the local Chief Constable, in the case of your letter the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Force, to decide how his or her Officers and employees should best balance the rights to freedom of the press, freedom of expression and the need for public protection.”

What is a reasonable circumstance, and when did matters of UK law become something that the police decide, and not the lawmakers?

I understand that the police by necessity must take into account circumstances and use discretion during their daily work, but a government effectively placing policy in the hands of the police isn't the way to go.