Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/12/14
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Ted - I suspect enforcement is very spotty. I was in London last month shooting pictures of people, buildings, bridges, traffic, etc. and no one said boo to me. So were a lot of other people. I was using a G-1 with 20mm pancake lens so maybe I looked like just another tourist not worth bothering with, OTH, my D300 and a long zoom might have attracted attention. I just don't know. I read recently, and I don't remember where now, it might have been in a London paper just before I left, that the police had been given instructions not to overdo it and, in fact, tourists taking pictures were specifically to be left alone. Regards, Dick On Dec 13, 2009, at 5:21 PM, <tedgrant at shaw.ca> wrote: > Steve Unsworth offered: > Subject: Re: [Leica] UK police use anti-terrorism laws to stop > photographers -- and so do American ones > > >> If you think that's bad, welcome to Stasi Britain... >> > <http://www.bindmans.com/index.php?id=672> > > My favorite part: > "Each accredited NUJ member has a unique PIN number and photographic ID, > and the police have access to a 24 hour ?hotline? that they can call to > verify the personal details and identity of a legitimate member of the > press. The Guidelines set out that the police will recognise the holder of > a valid Press Card, issued by the UK Press Card Authority Limited, as ?a > bona fide news gatherer?." > > Greg Lorenzo responded: >>> It seems the UK is no longer a nanny state but has become a uber nanny >>> state with Elsa, she wolf of the SS, in the role of nanny. Internal >>> papers is something found in Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union not a >>> democratic western state.<<<< > > Crew, > I maybe in the UK spring time working on a new book about medical students > in training and I find this police crap rather unnerving! I really do not > need any twit melon head cop giving me a hard time in Oxford while > photographing med students dissecting a human body! > > The "officer" may find himself singing soprano for the rest of his days, > as it's only a quick nick from Baritone to Soprano! ;-) :-) Hey and I know > how to do that one, having photographed it many times on calves and a > couple of unknowing males! ;-) Yeah it was all legal and in the OR! Trust > me it's QUICK! :-) > > So what does one do? Apply for a "Photographer Visa" before entering the > UK? I never had this kind of "challenging incompetents even in the old > Soviet Union!" > > So what we read here is that if I were spending a quiet down time > strolling the Thames across from the Parliament Buildings and I'm doing > plain old fashion happy snaps and the cops could came along they could > arrest or detain me? If this kind of garbage is kept up by pointee headed, > "a lose term... Police officers?" It sure could play hell with the tourist > industry that is already in panic state due to the economic conditions > around the world! > > Maybe a couple of the Brit members and myself could set something up as a > test case. They quietly off with teles covering me while I do everything > "bad guy looking taking pictures" and see what happens. I give the cops a > hard time, I don't ever do that as you get into trouble and no pictures > usually. But in this case it might be interesting just to prove how stupid > the law is being applied by some officers who really don't know their own > regulations. > > I could sue for millions and the Brit guys and myself share the spoils! > :-) You gotta love the plan? :-) > > We'd all have 3 M9's, 3 new lenses to fit! :-) See if you stick with the > old doc you'll end up "Laughing, or wearing handcuffs! And booze is the > only answer!" Not too much! :-) > > A few ramblings! :-) > cheers, > the old doc! ;-) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information