Monday 16th February saw a change in the law. It became illegal to take a photograph of the police within the UK on the grounds of preventing terrorism due to the enforcement of section 76 Counter-Terrorism Act 2008.
That’s right, taking a photo of a copper could get you banged up. No, I’m not joking. Here’s one piece about this which suggests we’re marching towards a police state (Yes, I call it Gordongrad) and here’s HangBitch’s take on it. The British Journal Of Photography is also quite vocal about this typical New Labour piece of Stalinist legislation.
In response D-Notice has created the Daily Police Photo blog.
As D-Notice says:
The Labour government has decided that it would be a sensible idea to criminalise taking photographs of the police. As with the SOCPA Parliament Protest ban, the only response is to do it more often!
In related news, check out this report of a man being arrested for “not taking photographs of sewer-gates”. This man’s DNA was taken despite his being freed without charge. That is a breach of his human rights. But that isn’t something this “government” is concerned about.
The “government” is happy, nay it demands, it has to take photographs of you but you can’t take photographs of policemen and women.
This is Gordongrad.
Hi. Here’s a video clip of the police in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HECMVdl-9SQ
It is worth noting that, had the police realised that they were being filmed they could have arrested the photographer under the Counter Terrorism Act 2008 and confiscated the film.
Fortunately they didn’t notice.
Thanks for linking to Daily Police Photo.