The British Government has started arresting people on the street for taking photographs under their all pervading 'terrorism programme'. Photographing in public is completely legal but photographers are still being harassed.
We recently had a mass photography session in Trafalgar Square. I couldn't make that so I took my freedom in my hands and photgraphed Mick's Plaice, a fish and chip shop in Chatham High Street.
Recently, Labour's stasi arrested a photgrapher under the terrorism act for photgraphing this very chip shop. Osama bin Laden sits in his office in the Pakastani Intelligence building plotting to blow up a Chatham fish and chip shop? That'll bring the western world to its knees.
Actually it's a moot point whether Al Quada terrorists would make it alive up Chatham High Street. This is the city that gave the word chav to modern popular culture.
I have been in there actually, as I go to uni in Rochester/Chatham.
ReplyDeleteI guess we are living in a crazy crazy world.
What happened to the person in the end? Seems rather heavy handed.
Dear Brogaric
ReplyDeleteI live in Rainham.
He was eventually released without charge.
The problem is that this was not an isolated event but a pattern.
John
If you can't photograph Fish and Chips shops, the terrorists have already won!
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, I can see limiting photography access to structures like military bases and power plants, but I don't thinking wiping Mik's Plaice off the face of the planet would really take that much strategic forethought?
I had a friend who got into real trouble for snapping a picture of a police officer walking out of a bargain booze with a carrier bag with a bottle of whiskey in it whilst his police car was parked on double yellows.
ReplyDeleteThe police officer tried to seize his phone on the grounds of terrorism, my friend refused to give it to him so the officer said he was going arrest him.
At that point, my friend pulled out his SOCA warrant card and pointed out that he outranked the officer. I'd have loved to have seen the officers face at that point.
On a side note, did you know that under the data protection act, you're entitled to a copy of any cctv of you because it's stored on computer. Additionally, due to the DPA, they've also got to send the footage to be processed and have everyone else's faces blanked to protect them under the DPA. This process is very expensive, yet under the DPA, the most they can charge you is £1 as an admin fee. You could have some fun with that! - Thanks Mark Thomas!
Dear Geek
ReplyDeleteThat is also my view. You do not remove the traditional rights of an Englishman in order to preserve them. The government recently tried to introduce detention without charge for 42 days - breaking the principles enshrined in the Magna Carta.
It may be coincidence but the Labour party is trailing the Tories in the run up to May's election.
John
Dear Col.
ReplyDeleteLOL
John
John, with all due respect it is the Police arresting them not the British government (though they have given them the stupid law to do so...).
ReplyDeleteAs to "Labour's Stasi" is this law being repealed come May 7th? :-)
Politicians? All the same, regardless of party...
Incidentally I had a friend arrested twice for taking photos of Southampton Bus Station, though doing so in balaclavas and combats at 5am was suspicious! ;-)
I don't know whether to pity the British for what they've allowed to happen, or fear for us Americans who seem to be content to walk down the same path of stolen liberty.
ReplyDeleteBut how do you get out of the trap? How many people work for the government in the UK, and how many are wholly dependent upon the services it provides?
Dear Jonathon
ReplyDeleteoh, we are not taking it quietly. The government has been read its fortune.
John
Dear Steve
ReplyDeleteYou may well be right. I have seen too many governments come and go to have much faith in politicians.
John
PS Jonathon
ReplyDeleteI worked in the public sector most of my life. That did not make me, or any of my colleagues a political pawn for any party. Governments come and go but the civil service trundles on.
John
Dear Steve
ReplyDeleteYour friend was pushing his luck. They probably thought he was a local villian casing the joint.
John
Look guys, I was not trying to start a right-left row. I was just adding my two pennyworth to a national protest about a stupid policy that is driving a wedge between the police and public.
ReplyDeleteJohn
I am somewhat left wing but agree it is a really stupid law. That said the police aren't blameless, they don't enforce all the stupidly written laws (eg. foxhunting) though perhaps it's the city police that get excited with new laws and the countryside ones are more laid back... :-)
ReplyDeleteIt all went down hill with the ban of 'demos' at Parliament Square - I still can't believe a so called left wing government did that!
Good protest though - only way to get these things changed is to protest the stupidity.
Dear Steve
ReplyDeleteMy brother was a Cornish policeman. They are more laid back. It's the cider.
One of my daughter's current admirer is a Kent policeman. He leads a much more exciting life.
John