Advice to photographers in Uk

[farnz]

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James,

 

I have written to Richard Ottaway and requested that he signs EDM 1155 on my behalf, or if he is unable to do so then to sign it on his own recognisance. I also related the story of my being stopped by Community Support Police Officers in a local park to try to persuade him that episodes of unwarranted stopping by police are already occurring. (Episode here: )

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/barnack-s-bar/41130-where-hull-leads.html

 

I note that MP's signatures to EDM 1155 are up to 113 now.

 

Pete.

[earleygallery]

Good one Pete! I'll be drafting my response tonight!

[farnz]

I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings ... but it seems extremely unlikely that EDM 1155 will ever be discussed. I have just dug up the following on EDMs:

 

"EDMs tend to fall into several distinct groups. First, the Opposition may put down an EDM to pray against statutory instruments. Many appear in the name of the Leader of the Opposition or of another opposition party. This is how the Opposition gives public notice that it may seek to secure a debate on a statutory instrument; this type of EDM is generally the only one which can lead to a debate."

 

"What's a statutory instrument?" I hear you ask. It's "a document used to exercise a power expressly granted (delegated) by legislation." I think that the statutory instrument in this instance is The Terrorism Act, 2002.

 

Does anyone think that it's likely that the Terrorism Act would be challenged for this purpose?

 

Can anyone shed any light on another benefit of raising an Early Dat Motion please?

 

Pete.

[DTD]

Can anyone shed any light on another benefit of raising an Early Day Motion?

 

They help raise awareness about an issue in Parliament – a lot of MPs signing an EDM sends a message to the government that an issue is of concern. It gives a MPs something to rally round.

 

Outside of Parliament, I think more people here have contacted their MP around this EDM than would of if people had just said X is bad, write to your MP about it. Along with the concerns about the Metropolitan Police's suspicious behavior campaign, it keeps up interest in the issue.

 

So, no it won't change things, but IMHO it's still worthwhile.

[earleygallery]

Agree - I really don't expect any sort of 'direct intervention' on the part of the Govt. on this issue, but our efforts are raising awareness and if nothing else, provides a body of information/reference that we can point to if anyone encounters problems in the future.

 

In fact, nothing needs to be done - we are not in any way in breach of any laws and the laws are not being changed in respect of photography in public places. We just need the Police and Community Support officers etc to be aware of the law - and photographers to be informed of their rights, which all of these efforts are helping to achieve IMO

[farnz]

Thanks, DTD and James, and I agree that the key is raising awareness.

 

I suppose what I'm really keen to see is action on the resolution of the EDM: "... and urges the Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers to agree on a photography code for the information of officers on the ground, setting out the public's right to photograph public places thus allowing photographers to enjoy their hobby without officious interference or unjustified suspicion."

 

If this doesn't happen then uninformed or misinformed CSPOs will continue to interrupt and irritate lawful photographers. And the only way it seems likely that the ACPO will draw up a photography code is for the motion to be discussed, voted on and passed. I hope I'm wrong though.

 

Pete.

[bill]

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As a matter of interest, does anyone else think it's pushing coincidence a bit far to find that just over a week after I wrote to my MP, I have been called up for jury service...?

 

The truth is out there...

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[bill]

By the way, here is something I posted over on RFF, in response to an initiative over there to form a pro-photography action group.

 

This is a "Communications Wheel". I normally use it to define what the core message is in a sales campaign, and who the stakeholder areas and individuals are. The Wheel can have any number of "segments" - this particular one has worked out to six, in my mind.

 

How to read it:

 

The "core message" is, unsurprisingly, at the centre. This is the common, simple message that we want to present to the world. It should be clear, unambiguous, and easy to remember. Too many threads in the core message dilutes its' impact. Too much complexity makes it "opaque".

 

Each segment is a "stakeholder area". In a sales campaign I would include in this area the name of the director, company officer, etc. responsible for that area.

 

The bullet points in red are the "drivers" - the key attributes for that stakeholder - what they want, what motivates them.

 

The bullet points in green are the "filters" - the words and behaviours that we should use with that stakeholder to tailor the core message to meet their drivers, and to neutralise and satisfy them.

 

A stakeholder may of course fall into more than one segment, depending on their behaviours. You may therefore encounter a "curious" or "aggressive" police officer or bar owner. Their primary stakeholder behaviour and our response to it is "modified" by their secondary stakeholder behaviour.

 

I am NOT putting this up as a finished product, or as the last word. This is a straw man - a means to an end. This should provoke further throught and discussion.

 

 

 

Your thoughts?

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[farnz]

Bill,

 

That's a very refreshing and enlightening approach. I racked my brains (didn't take long;) ) but it looks like you've pretty much nailed it. Might I respectfully suggest another stakeholder: celebrities? They don't quite fit into aggressive people or curious people but they could also fit into either. I think the drivers differ too, perhaps:

• What do you intend to do with the image you've taken of me?
  
• My image is my livelihood
  
• Images of me are my property
  
• How can I profit from the image of me that you've taken?
  
• Did you get my best side/will the image compromise me?

Behaviours perhaps

• Be courteous
  
• Remain calm and try not to appear as a threat
  
• Show the image(s) to the celebrity if requested
  
• Reassure the celebrity that you're not intending to harm their public image
  
• Explain that you're not a professional and that you're not intending to market the photos

Pete.

[spylaw4]

That's a brilliant approach Bill! Well done!

 

BTW - here's another response from the LA:

Dear Brian

 

Thank you for your email. I will raise this issue with Jenny Jones,

London Assembly Member and get back to you as soon as possible.

 

Kind Regards

 

George Raszka

Green Group on the London Assembly

City Hall

The Queen's Walk

London SE1 2AA

 

So far nothing from my MP, although to be fair an intial email indicated 10 days was likely. I may have to snail-mail her.

Nothing from any candidiate for Mayor as yet.

[earleygallery]

Well here's my follow up letter to my acting MP;

 

Dear Mr Ottoway,

Thank you for your letter dated in reply to my e mail addressed to Andrew Pelling.

 

As I understand it Mr Pelling has stepped down and won’t be returning to his post - it stated in the press that you have been given responsibility for Croydon Central in the meantime. I hope that you can offer me some support in your capacity as my acting MP.

 

 

The problem I highlighted is indeed much wider than you seem to think. I have read of numerous instances of photographers being stopped, searched, questioned, and indeed prevented from taking what are perfectly legal photographs, including instances in the borough of Croydon, and - as you gave the example yourself - of the Houses of Parliament.

 

 

You may find the enclosed article from a recent issue of the Amateur Photographer of interest. I am sure that the editorial team would provide you with further information if requested.

 

 

In addition I can point you to further examples posted on the internet photography forums, including a video of two Police Community Support officers basically assaulting a photographer in London. See the following web links;

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/barnack-s-bar/47709-my-fellow-criminals.html

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/barnack-s-bar/49016-you-can-t-picture.html

 

This is a real problem, one of training more than anything, but unless it is brought to the attention of the appropriate people it will continue unchecked.

 

These incidents can also damage tourism - the site I refer to above has contributors from all over the world some of whom have stated that these reports put them off visiting London. Hence the need for action to follow up on the EDM and presumably ensure that an appropriate training program for the Police and security officers is put into place, so that innocent law abiding photographers are no longer unnecessarily harassed by ill informed or insufficiently trained officers.

 

 

In your letter you referred to ‘sensitive’ locations. The recent poster campaign makes no such distinctions - see the enclosed copy. It does make a reference to ‘the location of CCTV’ cameras - but it‘s hard not to be anywhere within the vicinity of a CCTV camera these days, especially in city centre locations! And surely the whole purpose of a CCTV camera is to spot suspicious or illegal activity is it not?

 

 

The general public won’t make the distinction, they will assume that photography in public is to be considered a suspicious activity or even an illegal one.

 

 

Referring back to the poster campaign, I would ask how many instances of terrorist activity have been prevented as a direct result of members of the public reporting suspicious photographic activity. Is this something that you are able to query?

 

As a constituent of Croydon and as my ‘acting MP’ I would like to personally empower you to sign the EDM on my behalf, or ask that having considered these points that you might like to do so on your own/own constituents behalf.

 

 

Due to my concern regarding the apparent lack of representation in the House I will also c.c. this letter to the Home Office and to Austin Mitchell MP.

 

 

Once again, I thank you for your previous letter and I look forward to your further response.

[spylaw4]

Excellent James!

If I don't hear back from my MP by the end of the week, I shall be writing (as opposed to email) to mine in similar terms.

[farnz]

James,

 

A powerful letter and one that will hopefully prompt the desired action! With my emails pricking his conscience too he might soon feel the need to act.

 

I haven't had a response to my most recent correspondence with Richard Ottoway and I'm heading to Holland (on the Eurostar - well clear of Terminal 5 ) for a fortnight so I won't be able to report progress.

 

I note that the EDM is up to 131, although our MP is notable by his absence, and - for the film buffs - I see that Glenda Jackson MP has signed.

 

UK Parliament - Early Day Motions By Details

 

Pete.

[bill]

It was interesting to watch the news just now and see the forces of a totalitarian regime act to "stage-manage" a newsworthy event and stifle democratic dissent.

 

The Chinese had some runners around the olympic flame too...

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[andybarton]

I hope you weren't out taking photos of the Olympic torch debacle...

 

Edit: Great minds, Bill

[elansprint72]

"Not since the days of the Miner's Strike........."

[bill]

Seen the ITN news and the cameraman being knocked to the ground and kicked...?

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[andybarton]

Freelance Apr08: FIT snappers snap snappers

[rob_x2004]

Was he an ITN guy Bill? If so thats fair, he is media.

 

I wouldnt mind my image was with the Met if I frequented social gatherings, Andy. That way I could be quickly ruled out if I was ever where the bomb went off, without wasting anyones time.

 

Whats your image worth? You worried about your pap value going into decline?

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[rob_x2004]

Then again I am so good looking I should be payed a fee....