Ignorant Security Guards and Photography
A while ago I was in the West End and paused to admire one of the new buildings that's gone up on St Giles High Street with a wide angle lens when this grunt came out and ordered me to stop shooting.

I told him to fuck off or call the cops, and added it's on their own website:

"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."

www.met.police.uk/about/photography.htm

He went to check it out, and didn't see him again
( Jahled Three shades of black, Thu 30 Aug 2012, 21:40, 4 replies)

They frequently cite terror law and seize equipment/memory cards though.
They've gotten a lot of stick for it.
( Slippery Mick ‏, Thu 30 Aug 2012, 22:13, closed)

Well done sir
It's always good to know your rights.

A few times I've taken pictures from the (public) pavement just to make a point. They don't like being told there's sod all they can do about it.
(Kliper Filllets Getting noticed by twats on the internet since, Thu 30 Aug 2012, 22:41, closed)

Just be affirmative with fact, and the hassle will melt away
I've never actually had hassle off cops themselves even during demonstrations that have turned ugly. Part of this boils down to a generally polite, non-confrontation manor. I was on one of those recent student demos that got out of hand and at one point a cop held one of my cameras whilst I packed another away. Apparently his dad was a photographer or so he was telling me. But he helped me out

Security guards tend to be typically a different mentality; they are the grunts of those buildings they guard just behind cleaning contractors, so can get a bit Nazi on members of the public, seemingly as some anecdote to the boredom of their jobs.

If you keep your cool and explain to them what is the actual law, I've found any hassle evaporates away, in my personal experience.
( Jahled Three shades of black, Thu 30 Aug 2012, 23:11, closed)

My friend, a lovely, good-hearted professional, took some pictures of useless coppers beating the shit out of a guy in the high street in broad daylight, with plenty of witnesses.
One of the cunts marched over, demanded her camera, then threw her on the floor and handcuffed her when she refused before locking her in a cage for eight hours. Not a single member of the public had the fucking balls to even raise their voice against this wanker.

She was charged with a breach of the peace, shockingly, which was immediately dismissed at the first hearing. Pretty much had a nervous breakdown shortly after.
( Wet-chinned bag shanker Cannot parse Wogan, Fri 31 Aug 2012, 10:38, closed)