street photography is NOT an offence

11 December 2009 From snapshot to Special Branch: how a camera made Paul Lewis guardian.co.uk a terror suspect.Casual shots of London's Gherkin attract stop and search just days after police were REMINDED street photography is no offence

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• paul lewis
• police brutality
• freedom
• stop and search
• privacy
• gaurdian
• terrorism
• law
• special branch
• civil liberties

[risofsmailnet]

I find this highly amusing; I never knew this would cause so much interrogation. It won't stop me shooting where I want though! Photography is such a great art. I'd be bored without it!

[ShanghaiCheck]

yeah, what if you just said to the security guy: ah don't worry mate, I'm just a street photographer, It's my hobby, just doing this for fun, wanna see what I've got so far?. they prolly would have said: awh okay no problem then. but on the other hand, even if you are acting weird, it is not prohibited to take pictures. it is not prohibited to call the cops either. just tell them the same thing. I shoot analog, so they can't see my photos. I just tell them they can buy my photos once developed

[eyesonlife]

Living & working in France. Never been bothered by security or Police so far. In London the SAME scene happened to me 2 years ago in front of this SAME building !

Made some shots in NYC. From my experience, i asked 1st to the security guys. As long as i don't get INSIDE the building, i can take picture from the street which is a PUBLIC space.

eyesonlife-photography . com

[TOCBass31]

See as a photography this bothers me on different levels. People say he is wasting police time or digging himself a hole. The cops are the ones wasting time and if defending your rights is digging a hole, then get me a shovel. I can't count the number of times cops have threaten me with being arrested for not throwing away my rights. I don't do architectural photography anymore because it's become such a hassle in the USA. Land of the free is bullshit as they think they can arrest you for obstr

[TeamNuclearWaste]

When this was taken in 2009... they just needed Reasonable grounds to suspect that the photography may be used in any sense of terrorism. Being as evasive as this guy was, that's enough for suspicion. I'm not for the Act, I think it was a very bad idea and am glad it was made illegal. But sticking to your rights and being evasive can, and will just dig you a deeper hole with police.

[doynsc]

at first i found this funny and interesting but when i realised he's just wasting police time it dawned on me that he is an unbearable journalist.

[ChamptonWit]

Street photography is not an offence but people like you and your aggravating attempts to undermine the generally acceptable behaviour of the police could cause it to be so. You dont have to surrender your details but then you should have no objection whatsoever for not showing what you have filmed if you have nothing to hide. What great encouragement you give to those real terrorists out there!! I totally agree with mreltel and his comments about you

[fatpatuk]

But isn't the bottom of the building on Google street view for the whole world to see???

[TBPHOTO92]

Im a photographer but agree with the police/security in this case, you are just being awkward! Its their job to defend from terrorism, and if they have reasonable suspicions they should approach you. You were being suspicious by not telling them why your doing it, and not letting them see the footage. Yes you don't have to, but it's only in your favour! They clearly said suspicious behaviour is filming reception/cameras/fire exits, not "the bottom of the building" as you tried to make it sound!!

[greybash]

glad you stood your ground

[xxbluejay21]

I think most people misinterpret street photography. Seriously, 99% of the photos I see from amateur street "photographers" just take pictures of random people for no apparent reason. Pointless.

[breakit46]

That was cycle cops not special branch.

What can you expect at the gherkin in the lobby, you are lucky they didn't put your arm up your back.

Fair play for holding your ground but in the current climate you should know- to keep away from the financial district or face their woe.

The Scottish cop couldn't have been fairer.