I came across this, I myself got stopped and search whilst taking these shots
So check out the link for impending changes to the law here in the UK, incidentally I wasn't bothered about the stop and search personally I found reassuring that the police were being vigilant
I voted blue on the strength of their "repeal bill" promises and such; been a huge disappointment that most of the measures in there are worded such that at first glance they're doing what they promised, but on closer inspection very little will actually change.
"As a result, although Section 44 will be repealed it will also be replaced – with a more “tightly-defined” power, which senior police offers can use upon satisfying a new ‘necessity’ test."
So it's being replaced really, not stopped.
Also what are the conditions where it is an offence to photograph the police?
"Section 58A of the Terrorism Act, under which it is a potential offence to photograph a police officer."
Essentially, if they've already decided you're acting terroristically enough to warrant a stop & search, they've already decided you're acting terroristically enough for photographing them to be an offence. As you'd expect. Especially if you refuse to let them search.
I remember when I was at uni pre 9/11 and my mate took loads of pics around town and bizzarely somehow they caught him on CCTV camera and CID ended up paying him a visit because, get this, he'd inadvertantly snapped the army-recruitment office and it was a 'target' in a war. They questioned him and were happy with his answers. But really, if an army recruitment office in a small town in greater manchester is being targetted and all other more important targets have been dealt with, I have a feeling we would have lost that particular war!
@chewyteeth An army careers office is a soft target just ask the IRA who killed Michael Newman as he left the careers office in Derby. Luckily we were not at war with the IRA (officially) so we couldn't lose.
Wow. This is the first time I've heard of a foreign country with a law that is more stupid than in the United States. I live in the US, by the way. We have some pretty stupid laws here.
While I can understand their desire to protect the country, I cannot believe any section of a law would permit the police to stop and search a person simply for shooting a photo. Especially if it was just light trails from a bridge at night.
I have been asked several time by police what I am doing. Especially if I am shooting at night, cause to a cop that is just weird. But I have never been searched, never been asked to leave, and certainly never arrested.
Hope this section is repealed and the replacement gives photographer's some leniency.
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"As a result, although Section 44 will be repealed it will also be replaced – with a more “tightly-defined” power, which senior police offers can use upon satisfying a new ‘necessity’ test."
So it's being replaced really, not stopped.
Also what are the conditions where it is an offence to photograph the police?
"Section 58A of the Terrorism Act, under which it is a potential offence to photograph a police officer."
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/11/section/58A
Essentially, if they've already decided you're acting terroristically enough to warrant a stop & search, they've already decided you're acting terroristically enough for photographing them to be an offence. As you'd expect. Especially if you refuse to let them search.
While I can understand their desire to protect the country, I cannot believe any section of a law would permit the police to stop and search a person simply for shooting a photo. Especially if it was just light trails from a bridge at night.
I have been asked several time by police what I am doing. Especially if I am shooting at night, cause to a cop that is just weird. But I have never been searched, never been asked to leave, and certainly never arrested.
Hope this section is repealed and the replacement gives photographer's some leniency.