Freedom to photograph/film
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.
Photography and Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000
The Terrorism Act 2000 does not prohibit people from taking photographs or digital images in an area where an authority under section 44 is in place.
It seems like every day now we hear reports of photographers in the UK being stopped, searched and even arrested for simply being seen with a camera and taking photographs.
The law is clear, photography is not a crime … but it does not stop police, does not take away the fear, and does not help the fact that the police are doing the terrorists job (taking away freedom, causing distress, etc).
It is very sad indeed, and is only likely to get much, much worse.
None of these people ever stop to think an actual terrorist would use the many covert means to take whichever photography they require, and would unlikely choose a small-town chip shop as their intended target …
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