Photographers ID cards to be required int he UK?

[tim atherton]

Anyone know anything about this?

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Photography/



"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"

[Jeff Conrad]

There's a thread (http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00JxlD) on this on photo.net. A couple of posts by John MacPherson give some additional information and this link (http://www.phooto.co.uk/rights.shtml) to a statement by the petition's originator.

The petition appears to stem, at least in part, from proposals in 2005 by London Mayor Ken Livingstone to post signs in public places warning of the dangers of pedophiles with hidden cameras. A search for "Livingstone" on the Amateur Photographer web site yields several related articles (http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/search/results.php?search=Livingstone).

[Pete Watkins]

I've heard nothing about this. In my opinion the authorities can all get stuffed, if pedophiles have taken up using 4x5 or 10x8 then we've all got a problem. With their grubby habits I doubt that they have the strength to carry all the gear. When I'm confronted I'll let you all know.
Best wishes,
Pete.

[Bobf]

It's all hot air - someone ate too much cheese before bedtime and had a nasty dream...

Anyone can set up a "petition" on the gov website - it does not have to actually make any sense.