I got escorted off Canary Wharf by security...

Kryptix

Kryptix

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Me and two friends were bored on Friday so we done the usual, popped out for some food, had a few drinks in a pub and then at closing time we decided to pop up Canary Wharf for a little walk about. I decided to grab my camera and we set off.

As soon as I stepped through the car park entrance to the actual street I got stopped by security.

What are you doing?
Walking around Canary Wharf...

Yeah, but what's with the camera?
I'm a photographer and there's some wicked views up here...

You're not allowed to take pictures up here unless you're a student.
Oh right...

At this point my friend interrupts and claims he is a student so I went along with it. :LOL: We showed our driving licences as ID and my friend showed him his 3-year-old college pass. The security guard then let us go but warned us not to photograph any buildings as it's against the law. I nodded and agreed but it would be very difficult to avoid photographing buildings in Canary Wharf. I had no intentions of not photographing them but it's easier to just go along with it.

Before I got across the road I was stopped again. We could still see the original security guard but these two weren't interested in that. They asked the same questions again and took all our details down before letting us go again. We had now spent over 40 minutes talking to all the security guards now, and had been stopped twice by 3 security guards in total.

Started snapping away whilst my two friends were just walking about chatting and I got approached again.

What are you doing?
Taking pictures of the cars. I've just explained this twice to 3 other security gaurds.

We have to stop people a lot in case they're terrorists.
Right-o... Bye.

I ended the conversation as quickly as possible as I was getting annoyed now. Continued snapping and then out of the very same door yet another security guard approached me.

Excuse me...
Jesus, I'm not a terrorist. I've been stopped 4 times in an hour and you all ask the exact same thing and then let me go when I explain what I'm doing.

Yes sir, that's fine, but you're not allowed to use tripods on Canary Wharf in case you hurt someone.

It was nearly 2am by this point and the only people about were security guards and cleaners!

I just ignored him and continued -- he didn't do nothing about it. After 5 minutes of him watching me take pictures, he then said "That's a very terrorist-like thing to do." :LOL: I nearly dropped my camera laughing. Bare in mind this bloke was about 50 years old, black and generally struggled with English. Anyway, I was done in that spot so I proceeded to catch up with my friends.

Yep, got stopped again as I looked suspicious 'walking at that pace with a large' camera... It got beyond a joke and I was sick to death of being stopped.

We continued and I said to my friends once more and we're gone. Sure enough, 3 guards were standing by the HSBC building and walked over when I sat the tripod down.

What are you doing?
I'm taking pictures of security cameras for my friend Osama bin Laden.

Needless to say they did not find that funny and escorted all three of us straight out of Canary Wharf. :LOL:

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Kryptix said:
What are you doing?
I'm taking pictures of security cameras for my friend Osama bin Laden.

Needless to say they did not find that funny and escorted all three of us straight out of Canary Wharf. :LOL:
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lmao nice one
 
Its a bloody joke, you have google maps thats how nuclear subs in faslane. The gsp system had its in built error taken off so now we all have miltary precision and you cant take pics of landmarks!!

Nice story and nice pics!!

Ive still got my Army ID Card wonder if i could get away with it.. :thinking:
 
Yes I fully understand your frustration, it's gone beyond a joke quite frankly.
 
Euan said:
Ive still got my Army ID Card wonder if i could get away with it.. :thinking:
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Thats illegal and nothing to brag about. You know full well you are required to hand in your id card in on discharge.

Don't tell me you still "pretend" to be a soldier? How sad is that!
 
Quaker said:
Thats illegal and nothing to brag about. You know full well you are required to hand in your id card in on discharge.

Don't tell me you still "pretend" to be a soldier? How sad is that!
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It was meant as a joke! yes i have my ID Card as a souveneir, it doesnt leave the house! No i dont "pretend" to be a soldier i did enough time being the real thing.
 
Euan said:
It was meant as a joke! yes i have my ID Card as a souveneir, it doesnt leave the house! No i dont "pretend" to be a soldier i did enough time being the real thing.
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So did I and keeping your MOD F90 after discharge is still illegal.
 
I just ignored him and continued -- he didn't do nothing about it. After 5 minutes of him watching me take pictures, he then said "That's a very terrorist-like thing to do." I nearly dropped my camera laughing.
.......................................................................

and the answer is.
"Is it? - I thought blowing things up and shooting people with an AK-47 were the sort of things terrorists did. You learn something new every day don't you?"
 
Quaker said:
So did I and keeping your MOD F90 after discharge is still illegal.
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Chill out guys. Its also illegal to eat Mince Pies on Christmas Day you know but nobody cares ;)
 
The Canary Wharf Estate is private property and the security guards will come and question you. There's been a few threads on this somewhere if you search.

I just did a search on google and found this flickr discussion thread:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/canarywharf/discuss/72057594125957343/
Response from the Security Manager at Canary Wharf
Following the experiences of people here and people I know personally, whilst taking photos at Canary Wharf, I contacted the management at Canary Wharf about this, and received the following reply which may be of interest to people here:

"I am responsible for security on the Canary Wharf Estate and am extremely concerned at your suggestions of 'hassle' and 'assault'. You are correct in your assumption that the Estate is private property, to which members of the public are generally permitted access. There are numerous signs throughout the complex, advising of the fact that the Estate is private property and not a public right of way. That said, Canary Wharf Group welcomes visitors, whether they be workers, shoppers, tourists or photographers, but obviously retains the right, under civil law, to question and, if necessary, eject, individuals suspected of criminal, anti-social or prohibited activity.

Photography is not banned on the Estate and therefore there are no signs advising of its prohibition. However, professional photography is only permitted with our permission and when granted, a permit is issued. Amateur photography is welcomed but, in the light of the current extremely high threat from terrorism, photographers may be questioned by security staff. Once satisfied with their legitimacy, security personnel will permit the photography to continue and I am very disappointed at your comments about the threats to confiscate the memory card or delete the photos.

Whilst I have, in the past, received a small number of queries regarding the questioning of visitors to the Estate by security personnel, this is the first time that I have heard of threats. If you can give me specific occurrences, I will investigate.

The Metropolitan Police are fully aware of our activities, aimed at combating the threat from terrorism and, provided that my staff are polite and provide an explanation for their actions, are comfortable with our approach.

I acknowledge that photographers are more likely to be challenged at Canary Wharf than in many other areas of London, if only because there are private security personnel on the Estate. I have to find the balance between providing a welcoming environment and also ensuring safety and security and it is extremely difficult to satisfy everybody.

Please be assured that there is no intention to hassle or assault and I regret if you or your acquaintances feel that to be the case."

I have asked for more clarification, particularly on how his staff define "professional photography". Any further responses shall be posted back.
Posted at 12:02AM, 5 May 2006 PDT
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Quaker said:
So did I and keeping your MOD F90 after discharge is still illegal.
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Oh Well! Still makes a good bit of memorabilia.
 
awesome story...

next time when asked if you are a terrorist...or that you look like a terrorist....

whip out a fake beard, put it on....and ask his opinion again!

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then accuse them of racial profiling and threaten to sue :p

is canary wharf private land?? if so what they say about tripods and photographic access is quite true depending upon their paranoia
 
Great answer, taking photos of security cameras :LOL:

Unfortunatley Canary Wharf is well known for it, and the guards there too. I think strictly speaking it is prvate property but they really don't have any common sense or sense of humour. Probably didn't help going when MotoExpo was on. I've wandered round late at night / early in the morning and and not got accosted, although always mind full so try and take shots as quickly as I can and move on.
 
to be honest

its a high risk target and privet property and it was very late a night im not at all surprised that they kept a very close eye on you.
 
I have to say that I'm impressed by the security of Canary Wharf. Before you continue to complain, just think about what you and thousands of other people would say if Canary Wharf was hit by terrorists ... because people kept on complaining about being stopped while trying to take photos, so they stepped down on security.

If you want to take shots somewhere like that why not go through the proper channels and get some sort of pass that you can show the security guys? It's private property, I think you really should be grateful you were aloud to stay as long as you did. Also if I were a security guard, I would have been quite insulted by your terrorist remark. After all I would only be doing my job ... helping to protects thousands of ordinary peoples lives.

One more thing .. With Canary Wharf being private property, is it worth the hasstle? It's not like you can sell the pictures without permission or anything is it? You might find this an interesting read.

Edit: Kelack beat me to it with the link to that Flickr group. I shouldn't type so slow :LOL:
 
rhubarb said:
Unfortunatley Canary Wharf is well known for it, and the guards there too. I think strictly speaking it is prvate property but they really don't have any........sense of humour.
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To be fair, do you blame them if all they encounter day after day is a barrage of smart alec answers and wise cracks? :shrug:
 
I think its a case of people not understanding the bigger picture. Wise cracks to the security guards just makes it worse for other people wanting to take photos.

Terrorist are first and foremost intelligence gatherers. When they have the information they need they do their dirty deed. A lot of intelligence gathering is photographs.

I tip my hat to the security guards for letting you get away with being a bit stroppy for so long.
 
I'm with Kryptix. PC gone mad. Terrorists are not gonna pitch up with DSLR's, tripods and 3 mates. Sounds like bored do gooders with nothing better to do with their time. For the record, I got the exact same treatment mate.

Gary.
 
Kryptix, you are a naughty boy. I bet you run around with your army ID and a tennis racket for a gun shouting NAH-NAH-NAH-NAH - let me give you a virtual spanking on the back of your hand. ;)

Great shots by the way - and post-pub too!!!
 
I remember your thread Gary, a classic one that was.

Its a tough call, yes its PC gone mad, but the guards are only doing what they are told to do.
 
EdinburghGary said:
I'm with Kryptix. PC gone mad. Terrorists are not gonna pitch up with DSLR's, tripods and 3 mates. Sounds like bored do gooders with nothing better to do with their time. For the record, I got the exact same treatment mate.

Gary.
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Look at it from the other side of the coin though Gary. It's not the security guard's job to decide exactly what a terrorist would and wouldn't do, It's their job to monitor what is happening and ask questions if they need to. In this case, they asked questions and allowed the photographers to continue, the fact that they were stopped that many times is just unfortunate but security guards can't be expected immediately contact every other security guard to let them know who they've stopped. I'm also not surprised they were stopped a number of times given the time of the night.

Oh, and I also don't blame security for ejecting the OP and his mates given the childish attitude.
 
fabs said:
Look at it from the other side of the coin though Gary. It's not the security guard's job to decide exactly what a terrorist would and wouldn't do, It's their job to monitor what is happening and ask questions if they need to. In this case, they asked questions and allowed the photographers to continue, the fact that they were stopped that many times is just unfortunate but security guards can't be expected immediately contact every other security guard to let them know who they've stopped. I'm also not surprised they were stopped a number of times given the time of the night.

Oh, and I also don't blame security for ejecting the OP and his mates given the childish attitude.
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It was a daft thing to say, but the whole system is crazy if you ask me. Terrorists are gonna strike if they want to, and you can be damned that it won't be an empty financial district at midnight they target.

I just wish our civil liberties were treated with bit more respect, why let a few evil insane fools ruin it for everyone else.

No ideas what the solution is, but the current "climate of fear" sucks.

Gary.
 
EdinburghGary said:
It was a daft thing to say, but the whole system is crazy if you ask me. Terrorists are gonna strike if they want to, and you can be damned that it won't be an empty financial district at midnight they target.

I just wish our civil liberties were treated with bit more respect, why let a few evil insane fools ruin it for everyone else.

No ideas what the solution is, but the current "climate of fear" sucks.

Gary.
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You may well be right Gary, but the big fear for security guards and police alike is that when terrorists do strike, it turns out that they were in a position to prevent it and didn't.
 
fabs said:
You may well be right Gary, but the big fear for security guards and police alike is that when terrorists do strike, it turns out that they were in a position to prevent it and didn't.
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Quite.

Taking it to the extreme a litle, but I'd wager Kryptix wouldn't tell a check-in clerk at the airport that the only thing he was asked to carry was a bomb for someone, so why should it be funny to tell a security guard he's taking pictures for a terrorist cell?

As I say, taking it to the extreme a little, but in essence both have their job to do in an effort to prevent terrorism on 'their patch' which isn't helped with wise cracks like that IMO.
 
i agree it sounds like the guards had nothing else better to do, they all have radios these days so there isnt any real need to keep stopping you.

i probably would of made the same "wise crack", some people need a sarcasm transplant.. next time get the guards names and make a formal complaint, its the only way theyll get educated.
 
Yes it may well seem like it's a PC world gone mad, but I don't think it is. The only people we have to blame for the way things are are the terrorists themselves for what they have done in the past, and continue to try and do in the present/future. If they hadn't done that we wouldn't have to try and protect ourselves.

It is a fact that terrorist use imagery when plotting, so preventing this seems like the answer. If they can't be accurate, then they stand less chance of success surely?

I'm not denying some security guys may well be OTT. But then again being OTT may be the best form of defense against those the protection is aimed at deterring. All I know, is that if something were to happen, and it was because security had been stepped down due to people complaining about things like this ... well, is photography more important than protecting innocent lives? When you see footage of mothers and fathers wailing in the streets because their child had just been blown to bits, will you think "Oh my god! Well at least I still got a picture of that building before it was destroyed" ? I don't think you would for even a minute.

I know I may seem OTT on most subjects like this (well emotive ones anyway), but I put a high value on life. I can not stand to see innocent people hurt because of other peoples needless actions or selfishness. Life is far too precious to waste like that.
 
Earlier this year, I went on a trip to London with 10 or so other students (I'm in a photo society at Uni), and we went to Canary Wharf with tripods out and a mix of cameras (from little compacts, superzooms and DSLRs like my 40D+grip and friends with D90+grip, D40 etc). Literally within seconds of setting up, a security guard was over asking what we were doing etc.

We just calmly explained that we were students, showed our uni ID cards and then they left us alone (but could see the guard following us around from a distance with a colleague). We were there for about an hour and they were still following us around, by the HSBC building etc. I don't see what possible threats a group of students would be, I know they need to be careful and stuff, but at least we didn't get hassled after that.
 
neil_g said:
i agree it sounds like the guards had nothing else better to do, they all have radios these days so there isnt any real need to keep stopping you.

i probably would of made the same "wise crack", some people need a sarcasm transplant.. next time get the guards names and make a formal complaint, its the only way theyll get educated.
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That's rediculuous! They are not there to entertain you or joke around when you make humour involving something they are there to prevent. They are paid to protect the property and the human life that uses it.
 
wicker_man said:
Earlier this year, I went on a trip to London with 10 or so other students (I'm in a photo society at Uni), and we went to Canary Wharf with tripods out and a mix of cameras (from little compacts, superzooms and DSLRs like my 40D+grip and friends with D90+grip, D40 etc). Literally within seconds of setting up, a security guard was over asking what we were doing etc.

We just calmly explained that we were students, showed our uni ID cards and then they left us alone (but could see the guard following us around from a distance with a colleague). We were there for about an hour and they were still following us around, by the HSBC building etc. I don't see what possible threats a group of students would be, I know they need to be careful and stuff, but at least we didn't get hassled after that.
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So you haven't heard that many of the terrorists have been educated in this country by our fine colleges? :shrug: Not saying that's the reason, or that you look like a terrorist. But it is something to consider perhaps.
 
Jo said:
That's rediculuous! They are not there to entertain you or joke around when you make humour involving something they are there to prevent. They are paid to protect the property and the human life that uses it.
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rediculous? why? theres a post on page 1 saying there is no policy of denying photography, providing that is genuine then these guards obviously did not know or want to follow the guidelines on this.

how many terrorists do you know that would openly admit to photographing security cameras for a missing presumed dead terrorist leader? it was obviously tounge in cheek. after the comment about the OP behaving like a terrorist then frankly i think it was deserved.
 
neil_g said:
rediculous? why? theres a post on page 1 saying there is no policy of denying photography, providing that is genuine then these guards obviously did not know or want to follow the guidelines on this.
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I can't see anywhere in the OP where the guards denied them the opportunity to take photographs :shrug:

(Except of course until they joked they were from a terrorist cell. Then what would you expect them to do?)
 
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