Atomic Systems

Hi - Have just downloaded the latest edition of Railway Herald (17th Aug 09) (http://www.railwayherald.com) and there is an update re the old subject of photography in public places.

The link is http://www.met.police.uk/about/photography.htm

From what I read the basics are

1. Members of the public and the media do not need a permit to film or photograph in public places and police have no power to stop them filming or photographing incidents or police personnel.

And

2. Officers do not have the power to delete digital images or destroy film at any point during a search.

Please read link and put any more comments below

Dave

Hi - To any Moderator - I have noticed this should be in the Railway Photography Forum so could you please move to right forum.

Cheers

Don't tell us.

Tell the police.

It's a good job railway premises are not public places then

The thing is though, these rules relate to the police, and for them it's irelevant if it's a public or a private place. The main issue when it comes to photography on private land is that the landowner has the power to ask you to stop and if not to leave. If you refuse to follow their instructions, the police can be called. The police themselves have no right to make the desision for themselves.
It's important to remember that the same rules that govern how the police must treat us in places like railway stations also apply to our own homes. If just because a railway station is classed at private land, the police suddenly get the right to stop you photographing, or delete or destroy your pictures, then what is stopping them coming into your home and doing the same.

NickCollier wrote:It's a good job railway premises are not public places then

Erm, there's a difference between Private / Public property and a "public place", as you should well know.

Chris wrote:private land, the police suddenly get the right to stop you photographing, or delete or destroy your pictures, then what is stopping them coming into your home and doing the same.

There's a also a difference in private property, and you own private property.




I've never really understood why people want to delete the images. Surely they are actually evidence of the offence, and if there's no offence, erm there's no real issue then is there.