Have the Brits Gone Mad?

[AcadieLibre]

UK to introduce "photograph a cop, 10 years in jail" law. I just read this and posting the link, not much for me to add to this bizarre law that is being brought forward.

UK to introduce "photograph a cop, 10 years in jail" law Boing Boing (http://boingboing.net/2009/02/03/uk-to-introduce-phot.html#previouspost)

PS: And yet another bizarre one.


Mall security guard accuses shopper of being a paedophile for photographing his own son Boing Boing (http://www.boingboing.net/2010/02/24/mall-security-guard.html?utm_source=feedburner)

[Bambi]

Oh my god! I can't believe what's happening over there! this is insane. beyond insane. it's evil. so if I go to London and take pictures of Buckingham palace I can be arrested?

[CarlCraig]

Perhaps this is one of those reverse psychology things

They felt the cops weren't getting enough paparazzi action so now everyone will be trying to grab a snap.

I wonder if they can go after anyone with an image posted on there blog and whatnot.

Carl

[Mad Aussie]

Reading that article I think there's a lot more to it than just taking a cops photo and going to jail for 10 years. The law is part of the anti terrorism laws so, like many laws, will only come into effect if other parameters are met first.

[Bambi]

Reading that article I think there's a lot more to it than just taking a cops photo and going to jail for 10 years. The law is part of the anti terrorism laws so, like many laws, will only come into effect if other parameters are met first.

perhaps. but it seems to me that reading some of the other articles that there is more to it then that. I have to say that these anti-terror laws are a way to exert control 'all for our own good'. It's allowing the erosion of basic human rights.

[Iguanasan]

Reading that article I think there's a lot more to it than just taking a cops photo and going to jail for 10 years. The law is part of the anti terrorism laws so, like many laws, will only come into effect if other parameters are met first.

You are assuming they act reasonably. What part of the last 3 or 4 videos that have been on the forum and their relationship to "Section 44 of the Terrorism Act" makes you think they will act with reason? I can see a lot of people ending up in jail for taking the photograph. They may not get sentenced for 10 years but then again, will they take that risk?

[Mad Aussie]

Actually my comment wasn't assuming anything at all. It's just how I read it and what I know about law, which isn't a lot. How people/cops use it was not part of my statement.

[Marko]

At the end of that article are bunches more links - here they are

What IS going on over there in the U.K.? Their 'image' has totally changed for the worse on many 'fronts' in the last bunch of years.



London cops declare war on photography (http://boingboing.net/2008/03/04/london-cops-declare.html#previouspost)
Manchester man arrested for alleged sewer-grate photography, held as a terrorist (http://boingboing.net/2009/03/03/manchester-man-arres.html#previouspost)
Current TV on photo bans in UK (http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/current-tv-on-photo.html#previouspost)
UK Police seize amateur photographer's film (http://boingboing.net/2007/12/18/uk-police-seize-amat.html#previouspost)
UK photographer chased down and detained for taking pix at fun fair (http://boingboing.net/2008/04/26/uk-photographer-chas.html#previouspost)
Photographers win British war on photography? (http://boingboing.net/2009/12/06/photographers-win-br.html#previouspost)
UK cop: 'War on terror means no pictures of police vans in disabled parking spots' (http://boingboing.net/2009/06/17/uk-cop-war-on-terror.html#previouspost)
UK man hassled by cop for not having a "camera license" (http://boingboing.net/2008/04/17/uk-man-hassled-by-co.html#previouspost)
UK mall bans grandparents for trying to photo their grandkids (http://boingboing.net/2008/01/03/uk-mall-bans-grandpa.html#previouspost)
Another London photographer arrested for "terrorism" (i.e. "taking a picture of a public building") (http://boingboing.net/2009/01/11/another-london-photo.html#previouspost)
Photographer beaten, detained in London for being "cocky" to policeman who implies she is a terrorist (http://boingboing.net/2009/12/15/photographer-beaten.html#previouspost)
I'm a Photographer Not a Terrorist campaign for photographers' rights (http://boingboing.net/2009/08/13/im-a-photographer-no.html#previouspost)
UK cops threaten to bust woman who videos her boyfriend's search on terrorism charges (http://boingboing.net/2009/07/21/uk-cops-threaten-to.html#previouspost)
Video: English cops terrorism-harassing photographer for taking photos of town Christmas decorations (http://boingboing.net/2010/02/22/video-english-cops-t.html#previouspost)

Middlesbrough cops, goons and clerks grab and detain photographer for shooting on a public street (http://www.boingboing.net/2010/02/24/mall-security-guard.html?utm_source=feedburner#previouspost)
Brit photographer who shot demolition of flyover arrested for terrorism (http://boingboing.net/2009/07/23/brit-photographer-wh.html#previouspost)
Police warn UK man that taking photos of "hooded teenagers" is illegal taking (http://boingboing.net/2008/07/22/police-warn-uk-man-t.html#previouspost)
UK Home Secretary green-lights harassment of photographers in public places (http://m.boingboing.net/2008/07/06/uk-home-secretary-gr.html#previouspost)
British cops deliver Catch 22 to photographers: you're not allowed to know which areas you're not allowed to photograph (http://m.boingboing.net/2009/06/12/british-cops-deliver.html#previouspost)
UK to introduce "photograph a cop, 10 years in jail" law (http://boingboing.net/2009/02/03/uk-to-introduce-phot.html#previouspost)
BBC photographer prevented from shooting St Paul's because he might be "al Qaeda operative" (http://boingboing.net/2009/11/30/bbc-photographer-pre.html#previouspost)
Kids' TV hosts terrorism-stopped for pew-pewing with sparkly hair-dryers (http://boingboing.net/2010/01/26/kids-tv-hosts-terror.html#previouspost)

[AcadieLibre]

I also post these so that Canadians are aware of what can happen and we need to keep vigilant on what our Government does and try and pay attention to any legislation that could come up in the future. There have been incidents in Canada and the USA that have happened, not as extreme but they have occurred and if we are not aware it could get as bad. Britain seems to be at one extreme and it is an example of why need to be wary of when it comes to government legislation.