FAO: Police officers, or those with knowledge of the law

OSB

OSB

OSB

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Basically a couple of my friends on the way home from a night out tonight wandered off with a road sign. A police car rolled past and quite rightfully an officer got out and told them it was wrong etc, he took their names and told them to take it back - not a problem. However I, standing nearby with a couple of other friends, took a photo of them talking with the officer (purely for memories and laughs). However the officer called me over, said he could sieze the camera etc. It wasn't my camera so i apologised and deleted the photo (i've still got one on my camera phone) anyhow, my question is, where do i stand??


Is one allowed to take photos of Police officers? Is it dependant on what they are doing? Can they seize the camera? etc etc.




Any light would be much appreciated!
 
You are within your right to take the photograph if you are in public and there is no reasonable expectation of privacy for the subjects in the photograph.

You are allowed to take pictures of police officers and indeed anyone in public. I was confronted by officers once but stood my ground and stated my rights. They backed down once they were aware that I knew my rights as a photographer.

Any attempt by the officer to seize the camera or delete the photograph can be considered as common assault. I don't think there have been any such convictions though.
 
Scuzi said:
Any attempt by the officer to seize the camera or delete the photograph can be considered as common assault. I don't think there have been any such convictions though.
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^^^ what he said.
According to PACE, officers can only seize photographic material if it contains evidence of a crime and that that material is at risk of being destroyed if it isn't seized.
 
You are within your rights to take photographs of anyone and anything within public view (just as it is within your rights to stand there and look at them).
 
Scuzi said:
You are within your right to take the photograph if you are in public and there is no reasonable expectation of privacy for the subjects in the photograph.

You are allowed to take pictures of police officers and indeed anyone in public. I was confronted by officers once but stood my ground and stated my rights. They backed down once they were aware that I knew my rights as a photographer.

Any attempt by the officer to seize the camera or delete the photograph can be considered as common assault. I don't think there have been any such convictions though.
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Different story in your homeland though..
 
Like others say your withing your rights to take pictures, its the same as all those police camera action programmes. The criminals say they don't want filming but the police say they are allowed to film as it is in a public place.
 
There's a video of this on youtube with a Brummie filming some Police from across the road in his front door. They wandered over and up his path and tried to tell him it was an offence to film the police. He said "no it's not" and asked them to radio their superiors. He was talking rubbish to them for ages being a lordy git, but eventually the superior officer radio'd back and aaid it wasn't an offence. The two police walked off without saying a word.
 
DampCat said:
There's a video of this on youtube with a Brummie filming some Police from across the road in his front door. They wandered over and up his path and tried to tell him it was an offence to film the police. He said "no it's not" and asked them to radio their superiors. He was talking rubbish to them for ages being a lordy git, but eventually the superior officer radio'd back and aaid it wasn't an offence. The two police walked off without saying a word.
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I remember this, and there was also a case of some old guy taking photos of his local town centre, a PCSO happened to be in the background of one of the images, and she ordered him to delete the photos, was posted on some news website about 6 months ago.
I think it's disgraceful that the police don't know the law, or are abusing people's ignorance to their rights.

Quick google finds this: http://photorights.org/faq
There's also a PDF floating around somewhere, probably a link in photography section.
 
It is rarely the case that the police are "trying to look big" rather they are misinformed on the law.
There are privacy laws in the UK to an extent - they just don't cover as much as you, I or the police maybe think they should!

As has been echoed numerous times, legaly you can photograph in a public place.
However there are also rules on if pictures contain evidence of a crime etc.
As in the majority of cases when police are involved there is some kind of "crime" going on then this is what thry usually try and stop you under.

One of the biggest pproblems is that although you maybe in your right, some police will try and force the issue through and as the end of the day you have to decide if it is worth the hassle or not.
If I was stopped in the street for taking photos I could fight it all the way.
They have no legal eg to stand on, forcing me to delete pictures etc.
They also can't seize equipment.
However I know full well that I'd end up being dragged back to the police station to find this all out - it is a waste of everyone's time.
I'm sure some people can spare the 2-3 hours ro be processed - they will get the appology at the end etc but its still time better spent doing other things.

What I will also add is that to save yourself "A Lot" of hassle, don't take pictures of kids in a public place.
To those amateur photographers - there is nothing "seedy" about doing so, but once you get an irrate parent and the police involved it all gets very drawn-out.
 
whilst it is legal to take the photo

if i was a policeman, i wouldn't want people taking my photo (who knows what their plan is with it)
 
Makunouchi said:
Well i'm sorry but i do. Or i at least expect them to know the parts of the law needed to do their sodding jobs.
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They are average people like you, they are not legally qualified judges or solicitors. They have no real qulifications that show they know the law to the extent you seem to be expecting them to.
 
stoofa said:
One of the biggest pproblems is that although you maybe in your right, some police will try and force the issue through and as the end of the day you have to decide if it is worth the hassle or not.
If I was stopped in the street for taking photos I could fight it all the way.
They have no legal eg to stand on, forcing me to delete pictures etc.
They also can't seize equipment.
However I know full well that I'd end up being dragged back to the police station to find this all out - it is a waste of everyone's time.
I'm sure some people can spare the 2-3 hours ro be processed - they will get the appology at the end etc but its still time better spent doing other things.
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Perhaps someone could clarify but I was under the impression that if you stated to the officer that you had different plans and that you intended not to help him/her any further you are perfectly within your rights to walk away. Course if you're being questioned about an arrestable offence its a different matter but little "chats" with the police that turn into time wasting trips to the station are completely avoidable.
 
Makunouchi said:
Well i'm sorry but i do. Or i at least expect them to know the parts of the law needed to do their sodding jobs.
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indeed, if they dont know the law then how can they arrest you? :)


You are within your rights to take photographs of anyone and anything within public view
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yep - but what if the person intended to publish them. commercial use etc? (other reasons as well) I'm sure there are restrictions on USAGE of those photos
 
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