School Boy stopped under terrorism laws for picture taking

Once again, darned PCSO's thinking they are all this and all that when wearing their uniforms - unfortunately, with power comes abuse of power. Some people should simply not be allowed to take on these positions of authority.

What on earth though are these PCSO's being told in the form of briefings...? They must be being advised by the police officers in charge of them surely...? Are they told to look out for kids taking photos, especially kids taking photos in/of train stations...? It's all madness, when will these people learn they are really making things worse by striping us of our civil liberties.
 
when reading this, I think if I could afford to leave this stupid country I would!

Michael.
 
Just for once I'd like to hear from the PCSO as to what exactly their thought process was.

Presuming it was more than a "I hate school kids and I have the POWER, mwhaaaa" :shrug:
 
Look on the bright side of this, for those of us carrying "pro." gear; at least it's not just us who are being suspected!

That aside, it's sad that the kid had to sign his own release form .. what if he chose not to sign, how long would he have been held?
 
DAM CRAZY:bang:
WHATS HAPPEND TO COMMON SENSE :cuckoo:, who are this so called Police officers, wish we could name and shame, just like builders from hell.
Dont you just feel like you are :bang:
 
My god, I did this exact geography trip 4 years ago, we had to walk from one point in town to the other stopping at intervals to recored how many cars/ colour etc, we could draw what the place looked like or take pics.

I would have gone nuts if they stopped me!!
 
From Liberty

http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/issues/6-free-speech/s44-terrorism-act/index.shtml


YOUR RIGHTS UNDER SECTION 44:

• The police can only give you a pat down, remove outer clothes (eg jacket, hat), search your bags and have you empty your pockets
• You do not have to give your name and address
• You do not have to explain why you are there
• You are not allowed to flee the search, but you are not required to be actively compliant. You are allowed to 'go limp' as passive resistance during the search if you wish not to comply
• There is no permission to collect DNA data during the search
• You do not have to comply with any attempt to photograph or record you
• Women cannot be touched by male police during these searches
• Make notes about the officers searching you - name, number and police force
• Note the time and the events preceding the search
• Note the specific wording used by the police to explain their authority to search you
• Ask the police for the reason that they are searching you. Specifically, are they searching for terrorists or are they simply trying to deter, delay or inconvenience you?
 
If I lived nearer then I'd be up for it.
 
I do feel like doing something too ...but a quick gathering at a railway station isn't enough I feel.... I'm not really interested in getting my name in the papers, but I would do something with greater impact that actually worked to keeping our rights intact..

... there was talk on TP of a country wide assault, lol ... each City/town gathered its photographers together for a single day of protest.???

.
 
I do like the idea of a mass TP flash mob :D
 
This is just bloody stupid....

I suggest that we all decend on London and, on mass, photograph a number of strategic targets:

A couple of railway stations
The Parliament buildings
City Hall
New Scotland Yard

(All places that will have a Police presence....)

Let me know when....

Steve
 
Jelster said:
This is just bloody stupid....

I suggest that we all decend on London and, on mass, photograph a number of strategic targets:

A couple of railway stations
The Parliament buildings
City Hall
New Scotland Yard

(All places that will have a Police presence....)

Let me know when....

Steve
Click to expand...

We've got to be little careful, whilst member here will take it in the manner meant, the last thing we need is silly stunts being pulled and getting a bad name.
We want to make a point, not provoke.
 
stressless said:
when reading this, I think if I could afford to leave this stupid country I would!

Michael.
Click to expand...

Is it so much worse in the UK?

I live in Oxford, so it's difficult for me to say. Because of the tourism, here, people get antsy whenever you take pictures that are remotely off the touristy trail (basically, anything NOT in front of a college).

I've read many of these threads about photographers being stopped, but I've always assumed it's no different than say, in the US.
 
Shocking - What an earth is happening to our country.

These so called community police, security guards etc. should be held accountable for their quite frankly stupid actions. If most of us were to make these sorts of stupid decisions in our places of work we would get a "rollicking" off the boss!!!! But what happens instead . . . . . . the school cancels all future field trips!!!! These people are supposed to be building bridges in the communities in which they SERVE, not alienating people.

I can just imagine the terrorist's meetings; right chaps what we'll do is get a £5000.00 DSLR, Tripod, Huge telephoto L Lens, pack a ruck sack full of other lenses and photographic goodies and go and take photos in areas with already massive amounts of CCTV protection. Surely would they not just log into Google earth with it's new street view and birds eye view features, or hide their camera in a bag, or some other discreet method of obtaining information.

Can not believe the hassle we get and then their is Google and other companies photographing every road in the uk from the roof of a car to provide internet users with walkthroughs of every street in the UK in addition to the readily available satellite imagery!!!!

(Not wanting to make light of the actual terrorist issues by the way)

Rant over!
 
theMusicMan said:
Once again, darned PCSO's thinking they are all this and all that when wearing their uniforms - unfortunately, with power comes abuse of power. Some people should simply not be allowed to take on these positions of authority.
.
Click to expand...

As with politicians, wanting to be one should immediately preclude someone from actually being allowed!

But I can't help thinking that we aren't getting the full story here. :thinking:

If the pretend policeman stopped the kid and asked him why he was taking pictures of a railway station instead of being in school and the kid replied "I'm on a geography field trip". I can't help thinking that even the most zealous Stasi officer is going to say "On your way then sonny".
If the kid gobbed off at him and was evasive, I can see how it would end in an official search. It's wrong that "Prevention of Terrorism" is being used to detain people for taking photo's but I don't feel that a 15 year old who should clearly be in school is the right case to throw our weight behind.
 
EdinburghGary said:
Seriously, a groupd SHOULD do that, and invite the SUN. This country is going to the dogs, I hate it.
Click to expand...

Erm...looking at the article it would be a safe bet the Sun have already been, unless they photoshopped the kid in front of the station :p also, you live in a different country :p
 
Jimmy_Lemon said:
also, you live in a different country :p
Click to expand...

Do we actually have PCSOs up here :thinking:

We certainly have lots of officious wee busybodies who think a peaked cap and minimum wage makes them the law, but no PCSOs afaik.

I don't think I've heard of anyone having the Terrorism Act quoted at them either, usually Strathclyde's finest threaten you with a breach of the peace charge if you don't stop taking pics, but if you stand your ground they usually go away...
 
We've got Community Wardens over in Inverclyde. Same meat different gravy. Part of their job description is to be the eyes and ears of the neighbourhood which I think translates to be an obnoxious prat whenever possible.

The government will not be satisfied until they have a modern version of the Stasi operating in every civilian enclave.
 
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