Photo surveilance of Photgraphers and Journalists

[social_lurker]

As an interesting aside to the debate on taking photos of people and the public, I was just reading this about the NUJ protesting about the police taking photos of journalists and photographers as intelligence gathering.

It's a funny old world.

http://marcvallee.wordpress.com/2008/05/19/political-response-to-police-surveillance-of-journalists/

[a1ex2001]

and so the watchers become the watched big deal, the real story here isn't the impact on freedom of the press etc which for what it's worth is negligeable, it's the total waste of tax payers money I'd love to know how many arrests AND convictions this practice has been central too and the associated cost so we could see if we are getting value for money.

[mattyh]

Freedom of Information Act request anyone?

[Marcel]

DPA more like.

[mattyh]

Opps. I was responding to a1ex's point about the cost of such things, which would be covered under the FOI :)

[Steep]

So members of a profession which is probably the most intrusive and unwelcome of all professions doesn't like gettng their picture taken?? What ye sow, so shall ye reap (as they say). You can't complain about freedom to photograph one day and then get upset when someone takes your photo the next.

[purpleclouds]

Had a bit of an exchange of shots with a police tog in Manchester during the anti war riots in 2006, I saw him and grabbed a quick shot but he saw me and took one of me with a cheeky smile on his face!! No harm done and I'd nothing to hide!!