Proposed ban on photographs in public spaces
Camper | 27.03.2007 14:31 | Indymedia | Other Press | Repression
The government are planning to process a law which will ban the taking of photographs in public places without a valid form of id.
The link below gives you the opportunity to sign an e-petition opposing the government's plans. Please, please could you sign it and forward it to as many people as you can. Civil liberties are being taken away from us in a very insidious manner - the proposed law has sinister implications for all of us.
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Photography/
Please forward as widely possible!
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Photography/
Please forward as widely possible!
Camper
Comments
Hide the following 11 comments
it would be nice to see a quote or somthing.
27.03.2007 14:59
joely
This is Hard to Believe...
27.03.2007 15:39
MistahBear
'News' Article here.....
27.03.2007 16:26
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/03/11/nphotos111.xml
"Moves to ban the photographing of children in public places have provoked an angry backlash from campaigners.
A council last month became the first to propose an outright ban on taking pictures of children in its parks, which even extended to stopping parents from taking snapshots of their own children at family picnics.
Amateur photographers claim they are increasingly being viewed with hostility by members of the public who suspect them of being paedophiles.
In one incident, when a married couple took pictures of a junior rugby game in a public park in Surrey, they were detained by club officials and police later visited their home to check their credentials.
A petition opposing any restriction on photography in public places has become the second most popular on the Downing Street website, attracting more than 55,000 signatures in just three weeks. News of the campaign has spread by email, as it did for the petition against road pricing which attracted a record 1.8 million signatures last month.
The petition, started by Simon Taylor, an amateur photographer, calls on Tony Blair to "stop proposed restrictions regarding photography in public places". It adds: "It is a fundamental right of a UK citizen to use a camera in a public place."
The first serious attempt to ban photographs of children in public was made last month at Vale of Glamorgan council, in south Wales.
Rob Quick, the council's director of environmental and economic regeneration, proposed "that no photographs, filming or other imaging shall take place of children or young people in parks and open spaces without written permission".
He said digital cameras, often with video, presented "the opportunity of misuse".
Park-keepers would have issued approval forms to parents who wanted to take pictures of their children.
The proposal was thrown out by councillors, who said it would be too difficult to enforce and that parents shouldn't need permission for pictures of family picnics. Mr Taylor fears, however, that other councils may follow suit by attempting to introduce bans.
Councils already ban photography in many indoor venues including leisure centres and schools while some parents have been prevented from photographing their children's nativity plays."
Silent Bob
Phew!
27.03.2007 17:15
If it happens to appear in the Daily Mail, we can sleep soundly.
Old Rope
no proof
27.03.2007 19:28
happy snapper
next time you see....
27.03.2007 21:02
stop cops
filming in public
28.03.2007 09:45
hunt sab
hunt sab
28.03.2007 10:14
To press the harrassment angle they would have to also exempt CCTV. That would work with commercial CCTV, but what about the thousands of private residential systems?
If it did make it through Parliament, I suspect ACPO would subtely tell the Home Office to kiss its arse like it did with much of Michael Howard's "repetetive beats" lunacy.
Think about it, you can't ban people from taking photographs in public places. It wouldn't square with the Human Rights Act in terms of freedom of expression and the right to family life.
How many phones have cameras in them now?
Sounds like another Downing Street press-friendly "initiative".
One test case away from the bin!
Artist
just cos there's a petition doesnt mean its true!!
29.03.2007 08:42
it's not accurate, end of story.
errrmmmmm come on!!
Yes, it was bollocks (official)!
29.03.2007 13:33
Thank you for signing the petition on the Downing Street website calling for the Prime Minister to stop proposed restrictions on photography in public places.
This petition has already attracted over 60,000 signatures from people who obviously share your concern. Not surprisingly, the idea that the Government might be poised to restrict your ability to take photos has caused some puzzlement and even alarm.
We have therefore decided to respond to this petition before its closing date of August, in order to reassure people.
The Government appreciates that millions of people in this country enjoy photography. So we have checked carefully to see if any Government department was considering any proposal that might possibly lead to the sort of restrictions suggested by this petition. We have been assured this is not the case.
There may be cases where individual schools or other bodies believe it is necessary to have some restrictions on photography, for instance to protect children, but that would be a matter for local decisions.
In fact, Simon Taylor, who started the petition, has since made clear that he was not really referring to Government action or legislation. His main concern appears to be that photographic societies and other organisations may introduce voluntary ID cards for members to help them explain why they are taking photographs. Again, any such scheme would not involve the Government.
We hope this re-assures you and clears up the confusion.
Gregor Samsa
I've already been arrested for this
29.03.2007 19:08
No charges have been brought, although my camera has not been returned to me either.
Winston Smith
Homepage: http://policestatebritain.blogspot.com