Photography forbidden

The only time a similar thing happened to me was when my son was playing a cricket match (about 10 years ago) in a place called Ryhope near Sunderland. It is famous (?) for the pubs in the main street which are all very grand loooking with marble (looking) columns and elaborate plaster work and painted signs. I was taking a photo of one when the very large landlord came out and angrily asked what I was doing, I explained and said what a fantastic pub front he had, he striaght away changed and a broad simle came on his face and then took me in to show me the plaster work inside. he explained that there had been a 'terrible' fight the privious night and he though I was a reporter. Looking at him if he thought the fight was terrible it must have been bad! 

As others have said, you were perfectly within your rights taking photographs in a public place. As Cornersteady has stated no one can ask or force you to delete a photo, you would actually be destroying evidence.

I remember reading articles about his subject in photo magazines some years ago, they had legal advice and sought the opinion of Austin Mitchell, an M.P. and keen photographer. In a nut shell the article confirmed you could stand on a public pavement outside a private house and take photographs of the inside of the house with a telephoto lens and not be committing any offence. It only becomes an offence under the harassment law if you repeatedly took photos of the house interior.

I'm afraid that taking photos nowadays is fraught with possible litigation or prosecution. Gone are the days where we could take photo's in a public space.  It's down to the over zealous Political Correctness  brigade. 

We cannot turn the clock back, so we are now stuck having to be a bit inventive when we want to take our pictures. 

K 

so we are now stuck having to be a bit inventive when we want to take our pictures. 

K 

The only bit inventive is trying to work out the settings 'K', other than that it's snap at everything and anything within the law, and any confrontation will get short shrift.

Have to admit PC can label someone wrongly even using the camera innocently.

The only bit inventive is trying to work out the settings 'K', other than that it's snap at everything and anything within the law, and any confrontation will get short shrift.

Have to admit PC can label someone wrongly even using the camera innocently.

I would be very surprised if most police constables understand the law regarding taking photographs.

I'm afraid that taking photos nowadays is fraught with possible litigation or prosecution. Gone are the days where we could take photo's in a public space.  It's down to the over zealous Political Correctness  brigade. 

We cannot turn the clock back, so we are now stuck having to be a bit inventive when we want to take our pictures. 

K 

I disagree, the law is very clear, stated above so I won't repeat it, doing what you suggest (being inventive) will actually generate suspicion about your actions. If I see a photo that is worth taking I quite openly take it, the only time I ask would permission is if its taking a photo of a child clearly by him/her self, but I never do that anyway.

Did have the police turn up one day when looking for Waxwings in Lowestoft.  I had a DSLR camera, a 650mm lens and bino's.  It was a residential area so wasn't too surprised when a police car cruised up.  He told me a concerned resident had called them.  Told him what I was up to and showed him photos on camera so no problem.  Didn't get the Waxwing

 

The only bit inventive is trying to work out the settings 'K', other than that it's snap at everything and anything within the law, and any confrontation will get short shrift.

Have to admit PC can label someone wrongly even using the camera innocently.

I would be very surprised if most police constables understand the law regarding taking photographs.

well they should do, and I think they do in tourist places. Here is part of the advice given from the Met to its officers:

We encourage officers and the public to be vigilant against terrorism but recognise the importance not only of protecting the public from terrorism but also promoting the freedom of the public and the media to take and publish photographs.

Guidance around the issue has been made clear to officers and PCSOs through briefings and internal communications. The following advice is available to all officers and provides a summary of the Metropolitan Police Service’s guidance around photography in public places.

Freedom to photograph and film
Members of the public and the media do not need a permit to film or photograph in public places and police have no power to stop them filming or photographing incidents or police personnel.

rest is here: http://content.met.police.uk/Site/photographyadvice

Moderator Edit:

Link now live.

 Guidance around the issue has been made clear to officers and PCSOs through briefings and internal communications. The following advice is available to all officers and provides a summary of the Metropolitan Police Service’s guidance around photography in public places.

Freedom to photograph and film
Members of the public and the media do not need a permit to film or photograph in public places and police have no power to stop them filming or photographing incidents or police personnel.

rest is here: http://content.met.police.uk/Site/photographyadvice

Moderator Edit:

Link now live.

Good link Cornersteady, covers the subject nicely.

As others have said, you were perfectly within your rights taking photographs in a public place. As Cornersteady has stated no one can ask or force you to delete a photo, you would actually be destroying evidence.

I remember reading articles about his subject in photo magazines some years ago, they had legal advice and sought the opinion of Austin Mitchell, an M.P. and keen photographer. In a nut shell the article confirmed you could stand on a public pavement outside a private house and take photographs of the inside of the house with a telephoto lens and not be committing any offence. It only becomes an offence under the harassment law if you repeatedly took photos of the house interior.

Remember  this  quite  clearly,  W !!  The  Photo  Mag  "Amateur  Photographer"  had  a  good  article  about  this,  including  the  work  done  by  Austin  Mitchell  M.P. ,  and  had  a  section  which  I  cut  from  the  mag  &  still  carry  it  in  my  camera  bag  somewhere  amongst  the  detritus  in  the  bottom.  The  one  point  clearly  made  was  that  the  vast  majority  of  the  Police  involvements  were  by  the  P.C.S.O.s  who  had  not  received  full  and  proper  training  in  this  area  {  no  reason  why  they  should  really --  its  not  an  everyday  occurence  }

It  was  made  clear  that  unless  you  are  in  an  M.O.D.  or  similar  area  of  tight  security  the  confiscation  of  films,  or  deletion  of  digital  pictures  cannot  be  forced  upon  the  poor  old  camera-wielder  without  a  Court  Order!.