New campaign to "report odd photographers" to the police

[Steve Kefford]

Basic rule: avoid being suspiciously hidden under a dark cloth: use a transparent one.

Considering the intellectual capabilities of the cops that have stopped me in the UK in the last few years, being conspicuous makes no difference. Waving at the boys buzzing us in the helicopters did not prevent being stopped and detained by heavily armed officers for a considerable amount of time.

Seriously, if the cops want to start taking this issue seriously, then it is about time that they learnt that photography CAN (and does) involve more thann taking holiday snapshots of drunken friends on holiday. This would then enable them to have a chance of determining if someone is acting strangley.

After all, odd is only defined by one's own terms of reference.

Steve

[Deane Johnson]

When you see how confused law enforcement becomes with ordinary citizens making photographs in an obvious manner, maybe even using a tripod, it makes you wonder how they ever figure out who a terrorist might be.

[Kirk Gittings]

I would like to report a number of photographers on this forum who clearly are pretty odd. Where do I go?

[Steve Kefford]

Maybe the next step is licensing and registration. With a license we've been screened, had security clearance.....

Now thats a new way to earn some money. Anybody know of any terrorists looking to comission some work?

Steve

[Michael Graves]

Terrorists use surveillance to help plan attacks, taking photos and making notes about security measures like the location of CCTV cameras. If you see someone doing that we need to know. Let experienced Officers decide what action to take.

The above sentence is the key to the notice.....not reporting "odd photographers". If neo-libs would learn to read in context there would be fewer knee-jerk reactions kicking up the mud.

[Brian K]

The above sentence is the key to the notice.....not reporting "odd photographers". If neo-libs would learn to read in context there would be fewer knee-jerk reactions kicking up the mud.

Neo-liberals? I would think that wanting to ensure that the Constitution and Bill of rights are held intact would not be a liberal or conservative issue but an American one. Maybe you haven't heard about the loss of rights we've endured so far since 9/11. Habeas corpus, protections against warrantless search and seizure, protections from surveillance and the right to privacy, the implementation of government sanctioned torture, right to trial and due process if you are arrested, right to legal representation if you are arrested. All of these rights are now at the discretion of the government and are not guaranteed.

Maybe this situation would have been permissible in the Soviet Union or Nazi Germany, but for an American to feel that these rights are unimportant goes against everything that this country has stood for. The rights in those nations didn't disappear all at once. The loss of rights is done in small increments, so as not to draw protest. And then one day, they're all gone.

[cyrus]

I think I want to start a portfolio consisting of photos of CCTV cameras...does that make me a terrorist or just odd? Heck, if photos of driveways and powerlines can be displayed in the Metropolitan...

[roteague]

I would think that wanting to ensure that the Constitution and Bill of rights are held intact would not be a liberal or conservative issue but an American one. Maybe you haven't heard about the loss of rights we've endured so far since 9/11. Habeas corpus, protections against warrantless search and seizure, protections from surveillance and the right to privacy, the implementation of government sanctioned torture, right to trial and due process if you are arrested, right to legal representation if you are arrested. All of these rights are now at the discretion of the government and are not guaranteed.

Exactly what is happening in our country today. So much for the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

[tim atherton]

The above sentence is the key to the notice.....not reporting "odd photographers". If neo-libs would learn to read in context there would be fewer knee-jerk reactions kicking up the mud.

ever tried taking a photo in any town in the UK which doesn't show the location of CCTV cameras? (there are about 4.5 million).

and here's the radio ad transcript:

Female Voice over:
How d’you tell the difference between someone just video-ing crowded place and someone who’s checking it out for a terrorist attack?

How can you tell if someone’s buying unusual quantities of stuff for a good reason or if they’re planning to make a bomb?

What’s the difference between someone just hanging around and someone behaving suspiciously?

How can you tell if they’re a normal everyday person, or a terrorist?

Male voice over:
The answer is, you don’t have to.

If you call the confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321, the specialist officers you speak to will analyse the information. They’ll decide if and how to follow it up.

You don’t have to be sure. If you suspect it, report it.

Call the Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321 in confidence.

in other words, just report anyone you don't like the look of or who deosn't fit in....

[Henry Ambrose]

Get thee to the Lounge!

What uninformed blather.

How many times do we have to be put through this on the Large Format photography forum?

Take it up with your respective governments or find a forum titled "the-mans-keeping-me-down.com"