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Photographers Rights - news report and media
Case studies, reports and resources.
(© urban75, updated June 2010)

Sadly, the reports of the police abusing their powers and harassing or arresting photographers continue to grow, so we've complied a lost of some of the more notable press reports, and included some useful links. Drop us a line if you have a story, or post it on our bulletin board.

QUICK LINKS
Latest news, case studies, incidents and related articles
Useful resources, campaign groups and more information
USA related articles
Australia PHOTO RIGHTS
UK police pages


Latest news, case studies, incidents and related articles:

2017
Professional photographer detained under anti terror laws after taking pictures of Hove Town Hall.

2013
Photographers' rights in the UK � Act of Terror animation details the law (April 2013)

2012
Santa bans photography at Christmas Lights event (Amateur Photographer, Dec 2012)
Police Threaten Press Photographer (PT&T, Aug 2012)

2011
Arrested for taking a photo of an ambulance (urban75 boards, Nov 2011)
'Security guards have no right to prevent street photography,' says Home Office (BJP, Nov 2011)
Man takes picture of daughter in shopping centre. Police called (BBC, Sept 2011)
Terrorism police pounce on tourist photographers (Amateur Photographer, July 2011)

2010
Photographer threatened with arrest and forced to delete images (NUJ, Aug 2010)
Officers claim they don't need law to stop photographer taking pictures (Independent, June 2010)
Police pays damages and apologises to photojournalists (Press Gazette, June 2010)
Photojournalist detained for army cadet pics (BJP, June 2010)
Abuse of Terror laws continues (NUJ, May 2010)
Photography under threat: The shooting party�s over (Times, March 2010)
Police used terror legislation to stop ex-RAF engineer in Kidlington (Oxford Mail, Feb 2010)
Mall security guard accuses shopper of being a paedophile for photographing his own son (BBoing Feb 2010)
Man held in police station for eight hours after taking pictures of Christmas celebrations (Guardian Feb 2010)
Can I ignore a section 44 stop and search? (Guardian Feb 2010)
I'm a Photographer, Not a Terrorist! (Photo protest Jan 2010)
Stop-and-search powers ruled illegal by European court (BBC Jan 2010)
Home Office advises Police to break the law (Register Jan 2010)
Discuss Section 44 on our boards (urban75)
Police say it was wrong to hold royal-watchers' cameras (BBC, Jan 2010)

2009
Police harass bloke filming a station/"planning an al Qaeda attack" (urban75, Dec 2009)
Italian student tells of arrest while filming for fun (Guardian, Dec 2009)
Police U-turn on photographers and anti-terror laws (Independent, Dec 2009)
The picture that could land you in jail: How police in Big Brother Britain treat you like a terrorist for taking holiday snaps (Daily Mail, Dec 2009)
NUJ slams photographer�s arrest (NUJ, Dec 2009)
Award-winning photographer stopped after photographing a bank's building (BJP, Dec 2009)
Warning: Do not take this picture (Independent, Dec 2009)
BBC man in terror quiz for photographing St Paul's sunset. (This Is London, Nov 2009). Also: BBC clip
Kent Police exceeded powers in too-tall photographer case. (The Register, Nov 2009)
Woman 'detained' for filming police search launches high court challenge. (Guardian, July 2009)
Photographer arrested under Section 44 in Chatham High Street. (July 2009)
PhotoBlog Editor Stopped and Searched (June 2009)
The architectural photographer as terrorist (openDemocracy April 2009)
Police officer tells man he's not allowed to photograph children (ePhotoZine April 2009)
Police delete London tourists' photos 'to prevent terrorism' (Guardian April 2009)
Photographers protest against Section 76 (Feb 2009)
Taking photos of police officers could be considered a crime (BJP Jan 2009)
Tory MP stopped and searched by police for taking photos of cycle path (Telegraph Jan 2009)

2008
Petition to clarify the laws surrounding photography in public (Sept 2008)
Home Secretary green lights restrictions on photography (BJP July 2008)
Are photographers really a threat? (Guardian June 2008)
"Street photography is illegal in the town" (Apr 2008)
Innocent photographer or terrorist? (BBC, Apr 2008)
Photographers being arrested to seize evidence: NUJ (Mar 2008)
Birmingham police 'forced press photographer to delete images' (Mar 2008)
Street photographers fear for their art amid climate of suspicion (Times, Mar 2008)
Police order photographer to 'delete' pictures (AP, Feb 2008)
Anger at police statement on 'covert' photography (AP, Jan 2008)

2007
Police admit being 'overzealous' in Christmas lights fiasco (AP, Nov 2007)
Police 'stop and quiz' press snapper under Terrorism Act (AP, Nov 2007)



Useful resources, campaign groups and more information:
Photographer, Not a Terrorist
UK Photographers Rights - sirimo.co.uk (downloadable PDF file)
I�m a Photographer, Not a Terrorist! Stop and Search Bust Card (downloadable PDF file)

Association of Chief Police Officers national police-press guidelines
UK Govt petition to clarify the laws surrounding photography in public (deadline closed 13 Sept 2008).
Photographers' Rights in the US, the UK and Australia

USA
Taking Photos In Public Places Is Not A Crime: Analysis (Popular mechanics, July 2010)
The Photographer's Right (US guide)
New digital camera? Know how, where you can use it? (US guide)
War on Photography (US blog)
Union Station: photographers hassled

AUSTRALIA
Photographer Rights (PDF file)


POLICE PHOTOGRAPHY-RELATED WEBSITES
Film Unit web site
Met Police photography page


Further discussion:
You are welcome to discuss the issues on our bulletin boards Photographers rights in the UK: discussion. Please note that you will have to register to post comments (it is free).

Also: Photographing protests in the UK - advice on backing up images, streaming video and keeping your photos safe

Note: This article attempts to be a brief educational guide to the sometimes-complex matter of your rights as a photographer. It is not legal advice and we recommend seeking out proper legal advice if you encounter problems or contributing to our bulletin boards. Some material in this article has been sourced from the UK Photographers Rights website.

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