You are not logged in. Login or Signup
Home » links » Link 274487 | Random

This is a link post More stuff about it becoming technically illegal to photograph police in the UK.
A few weeks ago, Dekionplexis posted an article about new laws coming in to make it illegal to photograph police in the UK. He was dismissed kind of quickly, probably because he also believes that a photo of Obama with his hands crossed proves that he is the masonic antichrist. But looking at this stuff again, it looks a tad scary. Any opinions?

The new proposals can be seen here, written in green.
 (Cap'n, Tue 3 Feb 2009, 0:47, Reply)
This is a normal post This is disgusting
on so many levels it's hard to find where to begin.

As for the new laws;
"...an individual who is or has been..." - So no photos of anybody who is or has ever been in the armed forces - so no more photos of war vets on remembrance day? Invaluable to terrorists i'm sure.
Also, why is it that doing this in Northern Ireland only carries half the jail time?

This almost makes some of the anti-terrorist laws appear sane in comparison. When are people going to realize that nothing a terrorist has ever done has impacted our freedom one bit compared to the laws meant to protect it?
 (Roopy all is not what it seams, Tue 3 Feb 2009, 1:05, Reply)
This is a normal post It's not that bad really.
The main aspects of it are "which is of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism" and "It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that they had a reasonable excuse for their action."

Basically if you are taking pictures of policemen and you have a legitimate reason other then "I'm a terrorist" then it's fine.
 (I helped save b3ta! bobzarkoff, Tue 3 Feb 2009, 1:24, Reply)
This is a normal post Define 'terrorist'

(I helped save b3ta! ..wil, Tue 3 Feb 2009, 1:25, Reply)
This is a normal post Someone who commits an act of terrorism
Terrorism being: "The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons."
 (I helped save b3ta! bobzarkoff, Tue 3 Feb 2009, 1:30, Reply)
This is a normal post Which pretty much means they can use an 'anti terrorist' law
whenever the hell they feel like it. I don't see why they have to bring in a bunch of new stuff on the back of 'anti terrorist' stuff, it's just confusing.

Like national ID cards. How the hell does that have anything to do with 'terrorism'? Why not just bring it in as anti fraud and protection like they did in the rest of Europe?
 (I helped save b3ta! Hellzapoppin, Tue 3 Feb 2009, 9:55, Reply)
This is a normal post Harrumph
Certain police have shown a tendency to be dicks to photographers already. This act seems to do little else except allow them to be more dickish if they want to be, as well as giving them something to hide behind.
 (Cap'n, Tue 3 Feb 2009, 1:32, Reply)
This is a normal post You always get the odd cop that will be like that
Just like when you go to the supermarket you get the odd shelf stacker who thinks he runs the whole shop. The police don't have a leg to stand on if you are legit.
 (I helped save b3ta! bobzarkoff, Tue 3 Feb 2009, 1:47, Reply)
This is a normal post Once again
All the more reason not to give them a leg to stand on written into British law.
 (Roopy all is not what it seams, Tue 3 Feb 2009, 1:53, Reply)
This is a normal post
this argument
in itself makes the law useless

i believe police were already peritted to ask people if they are terrorists, and to confiscate items that may lead to the prosecution of such a person.

So why invent a new law?
 (Roopy all is not what it seams, Tue 3 Feb 2009, 1:38, Reply)
This is a normal post There were too many misunderstandings about the law
This was to try to get it in writing clearly for everyone.
 (I helped save b3ta! bobzarkoff, Tue 3 Feb 2009, 1:50, Reply)
This is a normal post fair enough
but the statement "It's not that bad really." should never be one heard in response to a pointless law that was never needed in the first place.
 (Roopy all is not what it seams, Tue 3 Feb 2009, 1:52, Reply)
This is a normal post It's not really that pointless
Without it written down on paper then the police will make their own assumptions about the vague terminology before. Also this law is aim at terrorist and protecting everyone else who is not a terrorist. In other words a tourist taking pictures of a policeman is ok, but a member of the IRA taking pictures of a policeman for recon purposes is not good.
 (I helped save b3ta! bobzarkoff, Tue 3 Feb 2009, 2:01, Reply)
This is a normal post Nah
The ambiguous words they use are against you, never for you.

Councils use Terror laws to make sure you're not sending your kids to the "Wrong" schools.

This is as disgusting as not letting you protest against parliament... outside parliament.

The jack boot wearing police backed up by totalitarian laws like this will now get away with anything they like and use this law to stop thier malfeasence getting on the b3ta links board... via youtube.
 (Doogie Talons, Tue 3 Feb 2009, 11:19, Reply)
This is a normal post Why should I need a reason to photograph police officers?
Its my camera, in a public place, and they're in that public place. Perhaps they should wear balaclavas if they don't like being filmed. They're no more entitled to the protection of the law than I am.
 (I helped save b3ta! Pew Pew Pew! Lasers! wannabe Gong Farmer, Tue 3 Feb 2009, 12:34, Reply)
This is a normal post i think the main point to take away from this
is that the government is continuing to pass laws which are unlikely to make us any less safe fro terrorism yet lessen our freedom. The great thing about UK law as opposed to, say American law is that we are allowed to do anything at all as long as there is no law against it (while the US law system is based around a idea of rights; anything outside of those rights is illegal).

Therefore these laws are chipping away at the precious freedom under the premise that they make us safer. Ask yourself, does this make you feel safer? Do you feel more free?
 (Roopy all is not what it seams, Tue 3 Feb 2009, 1:43, Reply)
This is a normal post I Think
the key phrase is:

"which is of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, or"

So carry on snapping. To convict you they have to *prove* that you knew that the photo could be an aid to terrorists.

So, taking a picture of a copper in Northern Ireland leaving his house would be illegal. Taking a picture of him in full riot gear smashing someone's head in wouldn't be.

And randomly snapping pictures of coppers at demos, football matches etc would still be legal. They're of no earthly use to terrorists.

Mind, judging by the wording of that act, it seems that you can't snap a constable (if the photo could be of use to terrorists) but anyone of higher rank is fair game. The act only forbids constables.

Cheers
 (I helped save b3ta! Legless Mister Stabby - shanks for the memory, Tue 3 Feb 2009, 3:24, Reply)
This is a normal post i'm going to have to take pictures of turners then
sorry
(I helped save b3ta! Dances with Rabbits Back to Education i go, Tue 3 Feb 2009, 7:58, Reply)
This is a normal post SPANG!!!!!!
.
 (I helped save b3ta! Legless Mister Stabby - shanks for the memory, Tue 3 Feb 2009, 10:09, Reply)
This is a normal post the obvious use of this...
is that at any point you see a copper knocking the shit out of someone, they will nick you for filming it.
 (I helped save b3ta! Kung_Fu_Russ ran out of amusing signatures on, Tue 3 Feb 2009, 6:03, Reply)
This is a normal post I think you will find that the reason is because...
by having your picture taken, the photo steals your soul.

It a conspiracy by photographers, and I for one will not stand idly by and let these fine public servants have their soles eternally trapped in limbo.
 (augsav, Tue 3 Feb 2009, 6:10, Reply)
This is a normal post The link won't work for me...
... but having read the statute in question, it's nothing like as worrisome as some would have us believe...
 (I helped save b3ta! Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Tue 3 Feb 2009, 10:02, Reply)
This is a normal post True...
.
There's plenty to be worried about with this government but this isn't one of them.

For me, it's compulsory ID cards, the mega database they've got planned (won't last a month before it's hacked or abused from the inside) and, my fav, anything to do with RFID.

Cheers
 (I helped save b3ta! Legless Mister Stabby - shanks for the memory, Tue 3 Feb 2009, 10:16, Reply)