Ban on Street Photography Proposed by UK Government
On-Line Direct-to-PM Petition Signing Against Permit System
UK Citizens Only!
The UK Government is about to propose restrictions on photography in public
places which could make street photography and documentary photography
against the law. These proposed changes to the law could result in
photographers having to apply for ID cards in order to take pictures in
public places.
The consequences of these proposed restrictions to the fields of documentary
and street photography could be hugely damaging, potentially wiping out an
entire area of photographic practice and certainly provoking suspicion
around people simply carrying out their profession or hobby.
The petition websites says, there are a number of moves promoting the requirement of 'ID' cards to allow photographers to operate in a public place.
It is a fundamental right of a UK citizen to use a camera in a public place, indeed there is no right to privacy when in a public place.
These moves have developed from paranoia and only promote suspicion towards genuine people following their hobby or profession.
If you are a UK citizen, to add your signature to the petition against the introduction of permits go to the PETITION WEBSITE
The full background story from the photographer who originated the petition is in the magazine Amateur Photographer
The photograph of the pigeons being fed was taken by Phillip Greenspun and comes from his Photographers Guide to London. None of the London photographs he includes in the guide requirted a permit.
Comments
They will take your picture, but you can't. England will be the least free country of the democratic world.
There has been absolutely no evidence to show that terrorists take photos to use in terrorism. They do not need a photo of your major stations to know that they are busy during rush hour.
There was no evidence that the subway bombers took photos before their deed.
Paranoia is taking over your country and you will doom yourselves to a police state. Good luck to you all.
Todd Maisel
Region 2 Director
National Press Photographers Association.
But there still the Film a Copper, Spend 10 Years in Prison legislation that may still go through - news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7892273.stm
And also in the last couple days accusations from both International Commission of Jurists in Geneva news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7892387.stm and former MI5 chief Stella Rimmington that governments have misused the terror threat to reduce civil liberties and weaken law. www.boingboing.net/2009/02/17/antiterror-laws-are.html
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