Stopped by police for taking photographs
#16
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,040
Re: Stopped by police for taking photographs
Happened to me at Milton Keynes shopping center on my last visit.
I got asked questions as to why I was taking so many pictures of different areas of the center, whats more they told me all the areas I had been and obviously been tracking me on their CCTV. I think the difference is I was on my own that day, in a very quiet center and was taking pictures along corridors and outside carparks etc etc, I was actually getting the established trees and bushes.
Name, Address, boy did they get prickly when I told them I was an overseas tourist. I didn't have to go to a police station, I think my Crystal Palace top was the thing that convinced them, no self respecting terrorist would have been such an obvious supporter, complete with associated identifiable old accent.
I got asked questions as to why I was taking so many pictures of different areas of the center, whats more they told me all the areas I had been and obviously been tracking me on their CCTV. I think the difference is I was on my own that day, in a very quiet center and was taking pictures along corridors and outside carparks etc etc, I was actually getting the established trees and bushes.
Name, Address, boy did they get prickly when I told them I was an overseas tourist. I didn't have to go to a police station, I think my Crystal Palace top was the thing that convinced them, no self respecting terrorist would have been such an obvious supporter, complete with associated identifiable old accent.
I mean .... who does that?
#18
Re: Stopped by police for taking photographs
That justy shows what I was saying, Police stations and Shopping centres, both the sort of places that have been past targets by terrorists, and, while I know there is no law against taking photos in public areas, the police will have the power to stop and question anyone doing so, to assure them that they are NOT terrorists, perhpad the tking of detaails was just to put the fear of god into someone, and nothing may well have been done with the info, but you wouldn't know that, and it would be a warning, and deterrent, to not repeat it, otherwise things just may have happened.
#19
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2013
Location: .
Posts: 235
Re: Stopped by police for taking photographs
And in the meantime 430000000 break and enters went unsolved.
#21
Re: Stopped by police for taking photographs
Hi there
I used to work in a photo library and we were always having these problems especially as it was aviation. I've been told off a few times at various airports!
Actually you can't take photos on private property and this includes Canary Wharf, shopping centres and National Trust lands for commercial reasons without permissions and permits. However, the security and police don't know who you are and in light of terrorism will pounce on you. You can take pics of Canary Wharf and Nat Trust on footpaths and roads around their land and then you are ok.
Many places you think are public aren't.
The Adelaide cops seemed a bit OTT considering you are a tourist! A simple please don't do this would have been suitable.
There is a lot of complaints around the world by photographers on this subject, many cops and security people don't actually know the rights of the man in the street and will just get heavy handed. I guess if you were doing something suspicious and they let it go they would be in so much trouble so they just go overboard the other way.
Hope this hasn't put you off Oz and I'm sure there must be some process for you to find out if your details have been kept.
I used to work in a photo library and we were always having these problems especially as it was aviation. I've been told off a few times at various airports!
Actually you can't take photos on private property and this includes Canary Wharf, shopping centres and National Trust lands for commercial reasons without permissions and permits. However, the security and police don't know who you are and in light of terrorism will pounce on you. You can take pics of Canary Wharf and Nat Trust on footpaths and roads around their land and then you are ok.
Many places you think are public aren't.
The Adelaide cops seemed a bit OTT considering you are a tourist! A simple please don't do this would have been suitable.
There is a lot of complaints around the world by photographers on this subject, many cops and security people don't actually know the rights of the man in the street and will just get heavy handed. I guess if you were doing something suspicious and they let it go they would be in so much trouble so they just go overboard the other way.
Hope this hasn't put you off Oz and I'm sure there must be some process for you to find out if your details have been kept.
#22
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2013
Location: .
Posts: 235
Re: Stopped by police for taking photographs
And the only thing we can say en claire is,---none were solved
#23
Re: Stopped by police for taking photographs
Happened to me at Milton Keynes shopping center on my last visit.
I got asked questions as to why I was taking so many pictures of different areas of the center, whats more they told me all the areas I had been and obviously been tracking me on their CCTV. I think the difference is I was on my own that day, in a very quiet center and was taking pictures along corridors and outside carparks etc etc, I was actually getting the established trees and bushes.
Name, Address, boy did they get prickly when I told them I was an overseas tourist. I didn't have to go to a police station, I think my Crystal Palace top was the thing that convinced them, no self respecting terrorist would have been such an obvious supporter, complete with associated identifiable old accent.
I got asked questions as to why I was taking so many pictures of different areas of the center, whats more they told me all the areas I had been and obviously been tracking me on their CCTV. I think the difference is I was on my own that day, in a very quiet center and was taking pictures along corridors and outside carparks etc etc, I was actually getting the established trees and bushes.
Name, Address, boy did they get prickly when I told them I was an overseas tourist. I didn't have to go to a police station, I think my Crystal Palace top was the thing that convinced them, no self respecting terrorist would have been such an obvious supporter, complete with associated identifiable old accent.
Milton Keynes
#24
Re: Stopped by police for taking photographs
In the early 70s 4 of us were sharing a car to work near Croydon. Police stopped us and spoke to the driver - Name? DoB? Occupation? "Geophysist" (not written down), place of birth? Name of town in Germany (not written down), What's in the boot? "Dirty rugby kit". They checked, stepped back quickly and sent us on our way.
We've been stopped and questioned by police in the UK, Australia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Mexico, Bali, and probably elsewhere. Doesn't happen now we're older
We've been stopped and questioned by police in the UK, Australia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Mexico, Bali, and probably elsewhere. Doesn't happen now we're older
#25
Re: Stopped by police for taking photographs
Quite surprised the OP was taking photos of a police station in Adelaide CBD - there's 2 and neither are in scenic locations or near any places of interest. I can see why it maybe raised some interest
#26
Re: Stopped by police for taking photographs
If he was a security guard at the Canary Wharf ( the main zone that Al-Qaeda have been focusing on since 9/11) I think you'll find he had every right to do that. Whether you like it or not is irrelevant. He was doing what he gets paid to do.
I think the potential risk of thousands of people's lives are more important than a photograph and I don't think anyone with any sense would dispute that.
#27
Re: Stopped by police for taking photographs
Happened to me at Milton Keynes shopping center on my last visit.
I got asked questions as to why I was taking so many pictures of different areas of the center, whats more they told me all the areas I had been and obviously been tracking me on their CCTV. I think the difference is I was on my own that day, in a very quiet center and was taking pictures along corridors and outside carparks etc etc, I was actually getting the established trees and bushes.
Name, Address, boy did they get prickly when I told them I was an overseas tourist. I didn't have to go to a police station, I think my Crystal Palace top was the thing that convinced them, no self respecting terrorist would have been such an obvious supporter, complete with associated identifiable old accent.
I got asked questions as to why I was taking so many pictures of different areas of the center, whats more they told me all the areas I had been and obviously been tracking me on their CCTV. I think the difference is I was on my own that day, in a very quiet center and was taking pictures along corridors and outside carparks etc etc, I was actually getting the established trees and bushes.
Name, Address, boy did they get prickly when I told them I was an overseas tourist. I didn't have to go to a police station, I think my Crystal Palace top was the thing that convinced them, no self respecting terrorist would have been such an obvious supporter, complete with associated identifiable old accent.
From what I understand you are allowed to take photos of anything so long as you're in a public place. It annoyed me a few years ago when my 2 girls were learning to swim and I wanted to take photos of them in the public baths but on several occasions staff members would come up to me and tell me it was illegal. I always replied it wasn't illegal but they had the right to stop me from doing it. 2 completely different things.
If you're causing a public nuisance then the police can move you on, but not stop you from taking pictures. I suppose they can ask for your ID etc.
A friend of mine did a photography course last year and he was telling me about privacy laws and peoples right not to be photographed. It's a rule of thumb that you can photo anyone with a X3 zoom even if they're on private land. This means that if someone is about a hundred yards away you will not get a very good photo of them. However if you've got a X20 zoom hiding in a tree 300 yards from someone then you're invading their right of privacy if you photo them. This will probably change as sensors get better.
Keel
#29
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 1,497
Re: Stopped by police for taking photographs
You weren't taking photos of the big cow statues were you?
From what I understand you are allowed to take photos of anything so long as you're in a public place. It annoyed me a few years ago when my 2 girls were learning to swim and I wanted to take photos of them in the public baths but on several occasions staff members would come up to me and tell me it was illegal. I always replied it wasn't illegal but they had the right to stop me from doing it. 2 completely different things.
From what I understand you are allowed to take photos of anything so long as you're in a public place. It annoyed me a few years ago when my 2 girls were learning to swim and I wanted to take photos of them in the public baths but on several occasions staff members would come up to me and tell me it was illegal. I always replied it wasn't illegal but they had the right to stop me from doing it. 2 completely different things.
Even if you were doing it innocently enough, there is a reasonable chance you might be getting other kids in the shot, next thing you know the photo is on Facebook and then that's not respecting anyone else's right to not have photos of their kids in bathers on the net.
#30
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,787
Re: Stopped by police for taking photographs
While it is frustrating not being able to get photos of your own kids, you can definitely understand why they might not want you taking photos of kiddies in the swimming pools.
Even if you were doing it innocently enough, there is a reasonable chance you might be getting other kids in the shot, next thing you know the photo is on Facebook and then that's not respecting anyone else's right to not have photos of their kids in bathers on the net.
Even if you were doing it innocently enough, there is a reasonable chance you might be getting other kids in the shot, next thing you know the photo is on Facebook and then that's not respecting anyone else's right to not have photos of their kids in bathers on the net.
Taking pictures of a police station may seem innocent, but if that poice station is later subjecto a terrorist attack and one of the local cops says "yeah there was this guy with a camera, but he looked like a tourist so I ignored him....." Tourist or someone scoping a target? Its difficult, and I'm not defending the actions of the police because I don't know enough abough the incident, but if part of the briefing for his job is to report suspicious behaviour, thats what he needs to do. Some people have better people-skills than others, so would cause less offence, of course.
Back in the days of the IRA being active in the UK, I worked for Sussex Force Intelligence Unit. We were frequently reminded of the bombing of the Grand Hotel, and the need to always remember it could happen again. Report people asking odd questions - report people taking photos in strange places - Brighton police station was a concrete monstrosity, anyone taking a photo was instantly under suspicion.
I can see why the Canary Wharf guard would ask questions; most of us would just be taking tourist photos, but his job would include the need to spot that one person taking photos with a more sinister purpose.
Sad indictment on life today, but please guys, try and see it as a wider picture, as an attempt to keep people safe rather than an attempt to be a killjoy.