mark u Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 A petition has been started on the Downing Street website requesting that the government reconsider proposed restrictions that would require photographers to carry specific ID when photographing in public places. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Photography/ It is open to British citizens and residents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff_conrad Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Mark, can you give a link to some specifics of the proposals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garry edwards Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 I've signed it. It may be worth mentioning that, under English and Welsh law, a public place is defined as a place to which the public may reasonably have access - so it isn't defined as a place where they have right of access, in includes places like our own front garden too.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony_bez Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 I would also like to know details of the proposed restrictions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_henderson Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Likewise, though my natural sympathies lie firmly in the direction of freedom to photograph, I'm not going to append my support to a case that isn't laid out. What exactly are the proposals, who's making them and what is the process for them to be adopted? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan_dzo Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 Like the rest of you I've not seen anything specific. Any nutcase can go on the 10 downing street website and start a nonsensical petition (which will then be ignored anyway). I wonder if they are confusing schemes being proposed by the RPS and others to produce photographer id cards to allay suspicion from members of the public. eg I'm taking pictures on a tripod of the sunset in my local park and stroppy dad comes up and demands what I'm doing taking pictures of his kids. I could tell him where to get off and get punched in the mouth, or I produce my official photographers ID card and he realises I'm not public enemy pervert number one. Clarity would help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjmeade Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 There is nothing related to this petition on the RPS website. The whole thing is news to me. And we all know that Tony is going to ignore anything that the public thinks anyway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_henderson Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 "And we all know that Tony is going to ignore anything that the public thinks anyway" He already has done. He's still there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cj.mccormack Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 Actually pehaps the introduction of an ID scheme wouldn't be that bad an idea. But how would you "qualify" as a photographer? Surely anything a "genuine" photog could do by way of qualification could be duplicated by a pervert who would then have carte blanche. Any thoughts? CJM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan_dzo Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 It's been suggested through various photographic federations in the UK of local photography clubs. Membership of these clubs would entitle you to an ID. Easy enough to implement but not sure how valuable it would be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garry edwards Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 So a pro photographer who needs to take photos in public places would first need to join a camera club? If that's so I think I'll find another way of earning my living... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al_gorman Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 by way of qualification could be duplicated by a pervert Hmm, is it the case of a pervert using a cam to take a pix. Best ban all use of cams in public places to prevent it from ever happening again. Same as saying ban all knives to prevent a potential killer using one. Where there is a will there is always a way. In reality it's about Politicians drumming up votes by whipping up the Public on a media hyped popular cause. Pointing out the wickedness of minority groups is a sure fired vote winner. The fact that it can lead on to more serious abuses of humanity is insignificant to those who lust power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathan_reynolds Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 Hey, that would be quite a burden for tourism. How could it possibly be upheld? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan_dzo Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 Gary, I'm not supporting it just reporting it. I don't think the idea was that it was obligatory. Professional press men etc can look after themselves. It's the enthusiastic amateur who tends to get a lot of flak and this was mooted as a possible way to identify yourself. But yes if you want to join our camera club I'm sure you'd be most welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alec_myers Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 Stuffed if I want to join a "local camera club" just to get a bit of paper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_macpherson Posted February 17, 2007 Share Posted February 17, 2007 I tracked to some info on this on his website here: http://www.phooto.co.uk/rights.shtml I emailed and asked for details of proposed legislative changes and links to it. There may be some info in the page above but I've not looked yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_macpherson Posted February 17, 2007 Share Posted February 17, 2007 Ok - I read a bit and found this: "These are the reasons why I have raised the petition at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Photography/, and although there is no bill in the offing, it is vitally important that politicians such as Mr Livingston are fully aware of the basic rights UK citizens have, and that changes to restrict our use of cameras would require very fundamental changes in UK law. February 2007, Simon Taylor " So no specific bill in the pipeline, more a general concern about the way things are heading....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_waller Posted February 17, 2007 Share Posted February 17, 2007 Any such law would be a gross infringement of rights under existing English law. This is creeping totalitarianism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garry edwards Posted February 17, 2007 Share Posted February 17, 2007 *Any such law would be a gross infringement of rights under existing English law. This is creeping totalitarianism* Yes, but as we now know, thanks to others, this seems to be nothing more than the view of one person that the Mayor of London, who in any event is believed to have very different political views to the Government, would LIKE to restrict the rights of photographers. I wish I hadn't signed it now - I think that this petition could be counter-productive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobmichaels Posted February 20, 2007 Share Posted February 20, 2007 "Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither", Ben Franklin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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