Alex Singleton of the Telegraph wants to put a letter in the Sunday Telegraph (27 December 2009) regarding potential problems of photography in public places.
The letter reads as follows:
"As professional and amateur photographers, we are deeply concerned about the treatment of those taking pictures in public places. Photographers using equipment larger than a compact camera are frequently stopped and searched under anti-terrorist legislation, which they find humiliating.
"We do not believe it likely that real terrorists would bother to set up a tripod or use a heavy SLR camera, as perfectly satisfactory pictures for their purposes could be taken on a discrete camera phone. If our photography has an effect on law and order, it is beneficial, as wrongdoers are unlikely to commit crimes in close proximity to someone visibly holding a camera.
"Meanwhile, some in the police, especially PCSOs, believe it is illegal to take any pictures of a police officer. This is because of ambiguous legislation, introduced earlier this year, which made it an imprisonable offence to collect "information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism". Given the existence of Google street view, we do not believe the legislation should be used against ordinary photographers.
"In March, at a meeting with representatives of the Royal Photographic Society, the British Institute of Professional Photography and Amateur Photographer, the Home Office agreed to issue guidelines to police forces spelling out that the law must not be misused against those engaged in legitimate photographic activity. This does not appear to have had the desired effect.
"Rather than treat photographers as terrorists, the Government should amend the Anti-Terrorism Act to prevent its misuse and explain to forces that a hostile attitude towards photographers is unwelcome."
Best wishes,
Alex (+365 photographers)
--
Alex Singleton
Comment Desk
The Daily Telegraph/The Sunday Telegraph
111 Buckingham Palace Road
London SW1W 0DT
E: alex.singleton@telegraph.co.uk
T: 020 7931 2858