Saturday 11 July 2009

Police issue London photography guidelines

The Metropolitan police have issued guidelines to officers on photography in public places.

It says:

"Members of the public and the media do not need a permit to film or photograph in public places and police have no power to stop them filming or photographing incidents or police personnel."

It also says:

section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 does not prohibit people from taking photographs or digital images in an area where an authority under section 44 is in place.”

They do however have the right to view images on a camera or phone being carried by someone being searched under Sections 43 and 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

With regards to Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000 which concerns the offence of eliciting, publishing or communicating information about members of the armed forces, intelligence services or police. It says:

"It should ordinarily be considered inappropriate to use Section 58a to arrest people photographing police officers in the course of normal policing activities, including protests, as without more, there is no link to terrorism."

and

"There is however nothing preventing officers asking questions of an individual who appears to be taking photographs of someone who is or has been a member of Her Majesty’s Forces (HMF), Intelligence Services or a constable."


For more details see the Metropolitan Police Website


Piers

1 comment:

Aperture Woolwich Photographic Society said...

May be worth printing out Met Police website page and keeping a copy in the camera bag in case we're stopped by an over zealous hobby-bobby.