UK Police Poster

[blazeicehockey]

I cry because it is laughable:

http://www.epuk.org/Blogs/825/thousands-of-people-produce-parodies-every-day


The last one is most poignant. :(

Darrin

[Bobfrance]

Good grief!

Is that real?

[blazeicehockey]

Unfortunately so.

[andrewmore]

The poster was used briefly earlier this year - I only saw it once in a newspaper. It was widely ridiculed at the time. The current Met Police number one problem is teen-gang knife crime rather than chasing terrorists so hopefully the hassling of photographers may diminish some what - at least for a while...

Regards

Andrew More

[kshapero]

I thought only America does stupid things. At least thats what all my European friends tell me.

[jan normandale]

ummm I'm not seeing much action by the police on this highly suspect group's (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7492844.stm) photographing of businesses and buildings nor this one's (http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2008/01/24/192maps_feature.shtml). Someone better get on this right away. Obviously they are terrorists. (j/k)

As an aside our lives are now under the control of the paranoid sections of society, the 'what if' scenario people who prepare for meteors landing on their houses and all that good stuff; and we've let them.

[wpb]

Reminds me of the posters in the movie Brazil:

"Don't suspect a friend, report him"
and
"Be Safe: Be Suspicious"

[xayraa33]

what if teenagers used Canon Vt's to photograph London?
if they happen to be swarthy teens, then they are a double threat.

they might be knife wielding terrorist photographers judging by their looks and the knife like trigger on the Vt. :D

[sircarl]

I was stopped by a security guard recently while taking photos in London's Charing Cross commuter line station. He even threatened to call the police if I didn't desist. I thought that, because picture-taking was allowed in the Underground (subway), it was allowed everywhere there were trains. Foolish me. I decided to ask at the station's information booth about this, and a supervisor was summoned. She told me, sheepishly, that photography was "sort of" forbidden in the station, but not if someone is simply taking pictures of another person. Undoubtedly terrorists are too stupid to figure out that by posing a "friend" in front of some vital bit of machinery there, they can get away with photographing virtually anything.

[blazeicehockey]

I was stopped by a security guard recently while taking photos in London's Charing Cross commuter line station. He even threatened to call the police if I didn't desist. I thought that, because picture-taking was allowed in the Underground (subway), it was allowed everywhere there were trains. Foolish me. I decided to ask at the station's information booth about this, and a supervisor was summoned. She told me, sheepishly, that photography was "sort of" forbidden in the station, but not if someone is simply taking pictures of another person. Undoubtedly terrorists are too stupid to figure out that by posing a "friend" in front of some vital bit of machinery there, they can get away with photographing virtually anything.

Funny that...I've photographed in St Pancras, but I'd be hesitant to do so in Euston. I've been stopped taking pics outside of Bank even though it was a public concourse.

[chambrenoire]

Two French students were recently stabbed to death in their London apartment. They received about 250 stabs between them. The apartment was then set on fire.

With all the CTV cameras,,,the police had NOTHING.

The guy gave himself up at a London police station where, the cops didn't take him seriously and tried to kick him out.:bang:

Yeah, and the CCTV didn't work on 7/7 London bombings either.

[jan normandale]

If you're a 'terrorist' just do a screen dump of anything in London thru that second link I posted. Save your camera and shoes. Then with your work all done you can go out for a night on the town without any harassment from security officers.

[jan normandale]

Two French students were recently stabbed to death in their London apartment. They received about 250 stabs between them. The apartment was then set on fire.

With all the CTV cameras,,,the police had NOTHING.

The guy gave himself up at a London police station where, the cops didn't take him seriously and tried to kick him out.:bang:

England is the most heavily 'camera monitored' country in the world. Outdistancing the US by about a ratio of 3 to 1 on CCTV cameras per person. Even Communist China does not come close to the UK. However the Communists are thinking of trying to catch up to the UK.

[chris000]

I thought only America does stupid things. At least thats what all my European friends tell me.

No, Americans just do them bigger and better - I like this one (seventh place in the 2008 Darwin Awards):

"A 49-year-old San Francisco stockbroker, who 'totally zoned when he ran', accidentally jogged off a 100-foot high cliff on his daily run"


;):D

[kshapero]

England is the most heavily 'camera monitored' country in the world. Outdistancing the US by about a ratio of 3 to 1 on CCTV cameras per person. Even Communist China does not come close to the UK. However the Communists are thinking of trying to catch up to the UK.
They will, hell, don't they make all those CCTV cameras anyway.

[kshapero]

In fact most of them are Israeli made and the security systems are run by Israeli contracters.
Imagine UK hasn't figured out that they are half price or better if bought from China.

[chikne]

This rant going on about photographers in the UK is way over hyped.

Very often I just stand outside a tube station in London and take photographs there, I use flash and I don't hide myself. Not a single problem with authorities or anyone.
Once I was literally inside Liverpool St. station and was taking photographs in there, 10 or more cops behind me while I was taking photographs, not one of them asked me anything. I started walking around after a while, then a station attendant (not a cop) asked politely why I was doing what I was doing, I simply replied that I was working on an art project. That was it.

Last Friday on Trafalgar Sq, I took a photograph of a guy in his face with flash, the guy nearly assaulted me, there were a couple of cops that helped us to solve the matter. Then the guy left and I spoke with the officers for a while. Their thought on that was they found it to be rude etc... The officers were more easy going than the civilian.

I've had more problems with civilians in London than I've ever had with any police officer, while doing street photography.

Go out and shoot!

[enochRoot]

watch the movie ronin for a good example of how to do this :D


Undoubtedly terrorists are too stupid to figure out that by posing a "friend" in front of some vital bit of machinery there, they can get away with photographing virtually anything.

[peripatetic]

I was shooting at Liverpool St station and the cops came over and told me to stop.

They were polite, and knew I wasn't a terrorist; explained that it was private property and if I wanted to get permission I should go down to platform 13 and talk to the station supervisor and get a pass.

[Anupam Basu]

This one was my favorite!

http://static.flickr.com/3090/2312975136_6133f8bd22.jpg

[chikne]

I was shooting at Liverpool St station and the cops came over and told me to stop.

They were polite, and knew I wasn't a terrorist; explained that it was private property and if I wanted to get permission I should go down to platform 13 and talk to the station supervisor and get a pass.

Same here, not a big deal is it?

[bottley1]

I used to shoot large format when I was younger and fitter, and loved the look and feel of the photographs, but gave it all up because I was sick to the back teeth of security guards, civilian vigilanties, and other a**eholes telling me a could not take pictures. I do not think the threat to photography in the UK is hyped up, I think any man on his own in the UK must avert his eyes when passing a school playground, or risk being kicked to death for seeming to be a paedophile. The UK is a sick paranoid society, and photography is just one of the casualties. http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/images/icons/icon8.gif

[jan normandale]

Anupam, that is a good one! Made my day here on RFF for that alone.

[andrewmore]

UK Railway Photography

If you search for Network Rail's web site and search for 'photograhy' you will see that it is permitted (subject to the usual common semse restrictions) for 'Railway Enthusiasts' to take photographs (and indeed was at one time wlecomed on their web site as extra eyes and ears (didn't have time to study the site in details today as it's nearly time for bed). Commercial photography needs permission but is often done (I've seen filming at Liverpool Street station). The police operating on the stations are from the British Transport Police and clearly don't know what their employers permit. London Underground requires a permit but tourist photography just gets ignored. Flash in either setting is forbidden.

Regards

Andrew More

[hunghang]

I have seen the same poster on a bus in Canberra, but this time - call the AFP (Australian Federal Police). I should take a picture of it next time (and wait for a knock on the door in the middle of the night).