Thursday, February 05, 2009
National Take a Photo of a Police Officer Day
On the 16th February the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 becomes law. This 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.
Laws are being introduced that allow for the arrest - and fining, and imprisonment for up to ten years - of anyone who takes pictures of officers 'likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism'. 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.
Now a Facebook group has been started to protest against this new law. They rationalise their opposition as follows:
Picture, if you will, a protest, demonstration or piece of civil action. These can be inconvenient places for the government. A bunch of riot police wade in with batons, and a shocked bystander takes out his camera to save the evidence. The right of citizens to maintain surveillance over their own police and military systems is vital to any healthy democracy.
That is one scenario. There are already examples of police officers challenging photographers who are legitimately taking pictures in a public place and demanding they desist or show the pictures. There is nothing illegal about this activity and yet some police officers believe that they can challenge it. Now they will have a law which they can use to do so.
The Facebook group seeks to protest against this Act of Parliament by suggesting members take a picture of a police officer on their phone or camera and post it to the group. All photographers will be anonymous. Photos will be collated at a number of participating blogs
There are issues about privacy linked to this venture of course. It is not police officers who have made this bizarre law. My concern is not so much that we are prevented from taking photographs of officers without their permission but the wider application of these powers and the impact they may have on wider freedoms.
It is too late to stop or change this law. We will just have to see how it is applied and whether the abuses of authority we are already aware of will grow under the auspices of the new powers now available.
Laws are being introduced that allow for the arrest - and fining, and imprisonment for up to ten years - of anyone who takes pictures of officers 'likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism'. 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.
Now a Facebook group has been started to protest against this new law. They rationalise their opposition as follows:
Picture, if you will, a protest, demonstration or piece of civil action. These can be inconvenient places for the government. A bunch of riot police wade in with batons, and a shocked bystander takes out his camera to save the evidence. The right of citizens to maintain surveillance over their own police and military systems is vital to any healthy democracy.
That is one scenario. There are already examples of police officers challenging photographers who are legitimately taking pictures in a public place and demanding they desist or show the pictures. There is nothing illegal about this activity and yet some police officers believe that they can challenge it. Now they will have a law which they can use to do so.
The Facebook group seeks to protest against this Act of Parliament by suggesting members take a picture of a police officer on their phone or camera and post it to the group. All photographers will be anonymous. Photos will be collated at a number of participating blogs
There are issues about privacy linked to this venture of course. It is not police officers who have made this bizarre law. My concern is not so much that we are prevented from taking photographs of officers without their permission but the wider application of these powers and the impact they may have on wider freedoms.
It is too late to stop or change this law. We will just have to see how it is applied and whether the abuses of authority we are already aware of will grow under the auspices of the new powers now available.
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well having been on quite a few 'demos' down the years - from the miners strike, anti-apartheid, the poll tax and the illegal iraq war - one gets used to being snapped by some easily spooted spook!
Who will ever forget the police actualy filming anti-BNP protestors in swansea's high street a few years ago! (tip for anyone contemplating taking to the streets in protest over some issue or other - make sure you look your 'best' as there wil probably more 'photographers' lurking around than at a royal wedding! and all paid for by us taxpayers of course!)
Thus it has become commonplace for protestors in recent years who - naturally feeling a bit aggrieved at being photographed by special branch despite the fact they are engaged in perfectly 'legal' activity - to respond by photographing or filming the 'photographers' so to speak!
Clearly our ever expanding 'big brother' state does not like it when the boot - or should that be the camera - is on the other foot!
Leigh
swansea
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Who will ever forget the police actualy filming anti-BNP protestors in swansea's high street a few years ago! (tip for anyone contemplating taking to the streets in protest over some issue or other - make sure you look your 'best' as there wil probably more 'photographers' lurking around than at a royal wedding! and all paid for by us taxpayers of course!)
Thus it has become commonplace for protestors in recent years who - naturally feeling a bit aggrieved at being photographed by special branch despite the fact they are engaged in perfectly 'legal' activity - to respond by photographing or filming the 'photographers' so to speak!
Clearly our ever expanding 'big brother' state does not like it when the boot - or should that be the camera - is on the other foot!
Leigh
swansea
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