New Terror law hits photographers

[Lamp]

Today, section 76 of the Counter Terrorism Act comes into force. Under the new law, it is an offence to "elicit, publish or communicate information" relating to members of the Armed Forces, intelligence services and police, which is "likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism".

BBC NEWS | UK | Photographers angry at terror law

This new law is absurd

Existing UK legislation already provides more than adequate legal powers to deal with people taking photographs of security services buildings and personel.

The state should be accountable to us, not the otherway round.

Rediculous

 

[Sparx]

this is so old its unreal. Its never been allowed to photograph members of the armed forces

 

[Dahakon]

Yeah, but this new law is different, it basically says that you cannot photograph the police, and if you do, you can be arrested under anti-terrorism laws. In theory this can also be applied to someone photographing the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace as well. I'm really sad they past this law =(

 

[Ch3tan]

BBC NEWS | UK | Ministers 'using fear of terror'

about time someone bought the issues to air.

 

[Sparx]

The law has always been there tho. In NI cameras used to be taken off people taking pics of Soldiers or military vehicles under suspicion of terrorism. This is just an old law being brought up for a bit of controversy, oh and shock by the BBC no less

EDIT: Changing of the Guard will be exempt (I used to be a Guardsman) as London gets so much money from tourism for guards on 6 post for example that wont stop

 

[soze]

Really who cares? If you do why did you enjoy taking pictures of policemen and solders?

Anything that upsets paps makes me happy they are scum. This is most likly in place to stop people working for counter terrorism being ID'd and black mailed.

 

[Sparx]

Really who cares? If you do why did you enjoy taking pictures of policemen and solders?

Anything that upsets paps makes me happy they are scum. This is most likly in place to stop people working for counter terrorism being ID'd and black mailed.

Ever watched the changing of the guard?

 

[Billargh]

You know there's a difference between Paparazzo's and Photojournalists right soze?

 

[soze]

Ever watched the changing of the guard?

As has been pointed out no way will people be arrested for stuff like that its more likely in place to protect the lifes of police involved in contraversal activities like the JCDM cops. They get splattered all over the papers and some nutter decides to get his revenge on them.

You know there's a difference between Paparazzo's and Photojournalists right soze?

Yeah thats why i said anything that upsets paps makes me happy not anything that upsets everyone with a camera.

 

[Billargh]

Apologies then, sounded like you were pigeonholing all photographers into the same boat as the razzi's.

 

[TheBinarySurfer]

This was almost entirely brought on to allow them to curb "leaked" reports, photographs and other information. It allows those in political power to control the information that appears in the media more easily.

There was a lot of legislation already in place to deal with this beforehand, this is just tightening the noose.

 

[Hawkwind]

Wasn't there a couple arrested in Southampton last year for having their photograph taken outside a cop shop. It made the papers and the police eventually apologised.