Just read this article on The Register about the Met’s reaction to numerous media reports on officers stopping photographers from going about their work, citing the Terrorism Act of 2000.
It’s something that we’ve all heard about and probably signed countless petitions over and is something that I myself have been pulled up on whilst taking shots in and around town. The advice…
The guidance reminds officers that the public do not need a licence to take photographs in the street and the police have no power to stop people taking pictures of anything they like, including police officers.
…so if you get pulled up on this in the future, stand your ground, politely. Let coppers look through your photos, that’s their rights under the law, however they cannot delete shots or impound your camera – unless of course, you have been snapping things you shouldn’t have!
Full article here: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07/09/metropolitan_police_photo/
