By Carlos Miller
On the bright side, the mainstream media in the United Kingdom seems to be making a determined effort to expose the insanity and paranoia behind Section 44 of the Terrorism Act, which is the UK’s version of the Patriot Act, meaning it gives police blanket powers to harass and intimidate photographers.
But on the dark side, police in the UK do not appear to be softening their stance against photographers – even though an official memo was sent out to police departments ordering officers to stop harassing photographers under this law.
In the above video, journalist Paul Lewis of The Guardian tests out whether or not the memo had any effect on the overbearing and illogical approach to dealing with photographers taking pictures in public, even though it has already been proven it hasn’t.
Lewis started taking photos of London’s Gherkin Tower, a uniquely designed landmark that naturally draws photographers. He was immediately accosted by a security guard who demand to see his footage and told him he was not allowed to film the building.
Lewis refused to show him the footage, which of course, drew even more security guards, an undercover cop and eventually, a uniformed cop.
One security guard told him he was allowed to film the top of the building but not the bottom.
The undercover cop put his hand in front of his lens and told him to stop filming his face.
The undercover cop also told him that the security guards were “concerned about the way you are filming” – whatever that’s supposed to mean.
Then he told him, “If you got nothing to concern yourself about, you got nothing to concern yourself about,” when Lewis refused to show his footage.
The undercover cop told him to wait until the uniformed cops got there and Lewis asked if he has to wait. The undercover cop warned him he would follow him around if he refused to wait.
The undercover cop insisted that Lewis tell him why he is filming and Lewis refused on the grounds that his information would end up getting logged in a police file, which the cop confirmed.
Then the uniformed cop arrived on the scene and ordered him he to show his footage under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act.
After several minutes of bickering, Lewis finally allowed them to view his footage after they threatened him with arrest.
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11 responses so far ↓
1 Robert // Dec 18, 2009 at 9:40 AM
Uh…a little common sense here; but why isn’t anyone carrying around a few copies of the internal memo so that when hassled they can simply hand the LEO a copy.
“I’m filming because so-and-so (official/s who issued the memo) said I could. Please feel free to call it in and verify it. I’ll wait right here.”
Anyway… as a question, doesn’t this memo constitute a standing order? Why aren’t any of the offending LEOs being reported by citizens as simply disobeying? I’m carefully assuming there is a procedure for walking into the English equivalent of a Precinct House and filing a complaint. And what makes it great is that instead of he said she said sort of arguments, a lot of these incidents are on tape, copies of which could be attached to the complaints.
Is there perhaps a British reader who can clarify?
2 lobster // Dec 18, 2009 at 11:38 AM
Oh, how Orwell would of been proud!!
3 Jon // Dec 18, 2009 at 3:02 PM
After the last few posts I am a little afraid to go to London. I am also afraid of taking pictures anywhere but inside my own home…under a blanket…in the dark…with the curtains drawn…and no battery in the camera.
4 Jay // Dec 18, 2009 at 5:19 PM
Why don’t they just go ahead and outlaw cameras already?
@Jon: If you take pictures like that, you might arrested on obscenity charges.
5 Frank // Dec 18, 2009 at 10:51 PM
More and more it’s looking like these “Section 44″ searches are street justice for disrespecting the authority of Constable Cartman.
6 Todd // Dec 19, 2009 at 12:01 PM
The UK has learned it’s lessons well: Osama bin Laden ordered the west to behave this way, to embrace fear, hate and absolutist government control. Congratulations to the citizens of the UK for following the orders of their one true leader, bin Laden! This is of course a satirical comment, but it’s amazing how well the west is heading in the direction that bin Laden and those like him want it to go.
7 Craig Joke // Dec 20, 2009 at 1:52 PM
A cop pulled his gun over a snowball fight
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,580693,00.html?test=latestnews
8 genewitch // Dec 20, 2009 at 2:06 PM
Carlos, it looks like the UK doesn’t fear its press yet. Either that or the UK public doesn’t actually care what the press has to say.
Sad, either way.
On a side note, i don’t listen to what our mainstream press has to say, and haven’t since 2001.
9 Florida // Dec 20, 2009 at 3:06 PM
It could be that cops are too dumb to realize negative press can sway public opinion? I say Kudos to Paul Lewis and The Guardian for doing their job. If nothing else, perhaps they sparked some discussion on the loss of basic rights. Also, I like the idea of citizens being warned on what they can expect…
Meanwhile, our own media has devoted countless hours to the infidelities of a certain golfer, but not even one on the issue of police abuse /civil rights.
10 Jon // Dec 21, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Whoa – yeah, not at all what I meant. Sorry all for that visual. Really sorry…
11 da bishop // Apr 5, 2010 at 10:14 AM
Paranoia or justified fear…
I actually know that I have the capacity to create *havoc* if I put my mind to it. It’s a high tech world.
This stuff of crime prevention is pretty farcical. However, security is a concern. Busting people for taking photos… if anybody asks me not to film be it authority or just a person, I’ll just put the camera away. I don’t believe that I have an automatic right to film people against their wishes whoever they are. If I do a deliberately covert video piece, I’ll pixel out all the heads. It’s only fair.
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The cops arrested you?! You were accused of a crime?! That’s a bit harsh dude.
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