Despite the recent urgings of British Transport Police chief, Andy Trotter (who has responsibility within the Association of Chief Police Officers for this area) It seems that the message about photographers not necessarily being terrorists still doesn’t have to filtered down to the rank and file.
Some of the recent detentions are just plain idiotic - 7 armed police detaining an award winning architectural photographer in the City of London, the stop and search of a BBC photographer at St Pauls Cathedral are just some of the more stupid examples.
As a photographer myself (albeit with more enthusiasm than talent!), I wholeheartedly support the group I’m a Photographer not a Terrorist. It is organising a mass turnout of Photographers, professional and amateur to defend our rights and stop the abuse of the terror laws. The gathering will take place in Trafalgar Square at noon on 23 January.
Nobody is suggesting that the police should not do their business but the stupid and heavy handed application of terror laws against citizens exercising their rights is a disgrace. I fully intend to be there.
10 comments:
Some of the recent detentions are just plain idiotic - 7 armed police detaining an award winning architectural photographer in the City of London, the stop and search of a BBC photographer at St Pauls Cathedral are just some of the more stupid examples.
Era of inanity.
Profiling will always lead to serious mistakes at times. Let us know what happens at the January meeting, Jams.
Not only that I support this initiative; I wonder when the British will end the reign of Sir Veillance.
It needs to reduce. THis sort of behavior is stupid
This one has been annoying me for quite some time!
Us both Cherie!
"Terrorism" is the favourite excuse of those who want to establish a police state.
It certainly can be a dangerous move Steve
Oh well. It is true that only very few of us, photographers, are terrorists, but we should check whether all terrorists are photographers. I doubt a research on this point was ever carried out.
Somehow I can't see Bin Laden being famed for his candid shots!
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