Reply from an Asst. Chief Constable (Photographers and s.44)

[jamesb84]

Firstly, apologies for bringing up this issue again...however, after 11 days I have a reply from my local Assistant Chief Constable.

I'm not going to reproduce the entire letter here, however some of the key points are:

(the use of section 44) is an important tool in the package of measures in the ongoing fight against terrorism

Regarding your question relating to the use of "high end" cameras by terrorists, I can confirm that cameras have been used by terrorist[sic] in attack planning. I am unable to confirm the make of these cameras.

As a police service our primarily[sic] role is to protect the public, I therefore reserve the right to authorise the use of legislative powers as I deem operational[sic] necessary.

For those that missed it, I wrote following the European Court of Human Rights decision regarding s.44 asking my local police service to consider temporarily suspending the use of s.44 pending a definitive outcome from either an appeal, or a re-write of the law.

I'm still waiting for a reply from my local MP.