Police stop church photographer under terrorism powers
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From: Phil Stovell on 9 Dec 2009 07:23 http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/dec/08/police-search-photographer-terrorism-powers Police stop church photographer under terrorism powers Seven officers sent to check on Grant Smith, who was taking pictures of Christ Church in City of London One of the country's leading architectural photographers was apprehended by City of London police under terrorism laws today while photographing the 300-year old spire of Sir Christopher Wren's Christ Church for a personal project. Grant Smith, who has 25 years experience documenting buildings by Richard Rogers and Norman Foster, was stopped by a squad of seven officers who pulled up in three cars and a riot van and searched his belongings under section 44 of the Terrorism Act, which allows police to stop and search anyone without need for suspicion in a designated area. "Three of them descended on me and said they were here because of reports of an aggressive male," Smith said. "One of them even admired my badge which said 'I am a photographer not a terrorist'. But they searched my bag for terrorist-related paraphernalia and demanded to know who I was and what I was doing. I refused. saying that I didn't have to tell them, but they said if I didn't they would take me off and physically search me." Smith's trouble began when he refused to provide his name and explain what he was doing to a security guard from a nearby Bank of America office. He said he was astonished by the police response, not least the expense of dispatching four vehicles and seven officers. His experience comes despite a warning last week to all police forces not to use section 44 measures unnecessarily against photographers. In a circular to fellow chief constables, Andy Trotter, of British Transport police, said: "Officers and community support officers are reminded that we should not be stopping and searching people for taking photos. Unnecessarily restricting photography, whether from the casual tourist or professional, is unacceptable." In the past 18 months there have been 94 complaints to the Independent Police Complaints Commission about the misuse of section 44 powers. There is a growing outcry among working photographers who are finding their daily routines interrupted by police searches when working in high-profile areas that may be considered terrorist targets. City of London police said its response to Smith had been proportionate. "When questioned by officers, the man declined to give an explanation and he was therefore informed that in light of the concerns of security staff and in the absence of an explanation, he would be searched under the Terrorism Act," said a spokesman. "After the man's bag was searched, he explained he was a freelance photographer taking photos of buildings. Once this explanation was received there was no further action."
From: Rob Morley on 9 Dec 2009 07:31 On Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:23:05 +0000 Phil Stovell <phil(a)stovell.nospam.org.uk> wrote: > His experience comes despite a warning last week to all police forces > not to use section 44 measures unnecessarily against photographers. > Presumably that wasn't sent to jobsworth private security operatives ...
From: Ian Jackson on 9 Dec 2009 08:37 In message <pan.2009.12.09.12.23.02.929105(a)stovell.nospam.org.uk>, Phil Stovell <phil(a)stovell.nospam.org.uk> writes >http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/dec/08/police-search-photographer-terr >orism-powers > >Police stop church photographer under terrorism powers > >City of London police said its response to Smith had been proportionate. >"When questioned by officers, the man declined to give an explanation and >he was therefore informed that in light of the concerns of security staff >and in the absence of an explanation, he would be searched under the >Terrorism Act," said a spokesman. "After the man's bag was searched, he >explained he was a freelance photographer taking photos of buildings. Once >this explanation was received there was no further action." So presumably all a genuine terrorist needs to do is to explain what he is doing, and no further action will be taken? It's a situation where neither the police nor a genuine photographer can really win. -- Ian
From: Chris H on 9 Dec 2009 09:02 In message <0YiWn4YLg6HLFwId(a)g3ohx.demon.co.uk>, Ian Jackson <ianREMOVET HISjackson(a)g3ohx.demon.co.uk> writes >In message <pan.2009.12.09.12.23.02.929105(a)stovell.nospam.org.uk>, Phil >Stovell <phil(a)stovell.nospam.org.uk> writes >>http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/dec/08/police-search-photographer-terr >>orism-powers >> >>Police stop church photographer under terrorism powers >> > > >>City of London police said its response to Smith had been proportionate. >>"When questioned by officers, the man declined to give an explanation and >>he was therefore informed that in light of the concerns of security staff >>and in the absence of an explanation, he would be searched under the >>Terrorism Act," said a spokesman. "After the man's bag was searched, he >>explained he was a freelance photographer taking photos of buildings. Once >>this explanation was received there was no further action." > >So presumably all a genuine terrorist needs to do is to explain what he >is doing, and no further action will be taken? Yes... It is only real photographers who get pissed off at the police in this situation. A terrorist will not draw attention and will do/say what the police want to minimise the attention to themselves. Also the terrorist will not carry anything incriminating on a recce so has nothing to fear. >It's a situation where neither the police nor a genuine photographer >can really win. Quite true but what it is doing is the terrorists job for them. It is pissing off the photographers and the public and making them co-operate less with the police. Whereas the police need al the help they can get. -- \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ \/\/\/\/\ Chris Hills Staffs England /\/\/\/\/ \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
From: Willy Eckerslyke on 9 Dec 2009 09:32
Chris H wrote: > In message <0YiWn4YLg6HLFwId(a)g3ohx.demon.co.uk>, Ian Jackson <ianREMOVET > HISjackson(a)g3ohx.demon.co.uk> writes >> It's a situation where neither the police nor a genuine photographer >> can really win. > > Quite true but what it is doing is the terrorists job for them. It is > pissing off the photographers and the public and making them co-operate > less with the police. Whereas the police need al the help they can get. I suspect there are people who believe that this type of security theatre actually does achieve something. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_theater |