Going to the UK... Can I get you anything?

[copter105]

I'm going to be in London in two weeks. Can I bring anybody anything from the USA?
Copter

[MTalley]

Oh, I thought you were offering to bring something back from the UK for us stateside folks. I was going to suggest an Austin Mini. Won't that fit in the overhead?

[SimonBl]

I was going to suggest an Austin Mini. Won't that fit in the overhead?

After seeing the type of stuff people try and put in the overheads, I wouldn't be surprised if it would :lol:.

Nice offer, Copter, hope you get some takeups.

Simon....

[birders]

You kidding? Just about anything over here is at least double the price it it in the USA.. And just wait till you see the price of gas here.

[bachscuttler]

I'm going to be in London in two weeks. Can I bring anybody anything from the USA?
Copter

Be careful not to take photos of kids.
The barmy city council have just introduced new laws prohibiting it

[mrclark321]

You have got to be kidding!!!! were does it stop?
Are you allowed to take pics of your own kids or do you have to show I.D.

Dan

[bachscuttler]

You have got to be kidding!!!! were does it stop?
Are you allowed to take pics of your own kids or do you have to show I.D.

Dan

I kid not :cry:

Here is an article I just wrote for another forum:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Mayor of London Ken Livingston has introduced restrictions on the photography of children in public places.
The police will have powers to arrest someone on suspicion of taking an indecent photograph without having seen the photographs first.
Equipment covered includes film and digital cameras and camera equipped mobile phones.
Suspects can be arrested and held whilst the police scan your equipment for suspect images and can search your home for images and confiscate home computers for further analysis.
Livingston plans to erect signs on Gtr London Council owned properties amidst fears of vigile antis confiscating equipment and assaulting innocent photographers.
You could fall foul of the law for instance if taking photographs in Trafalgar Square and children are inadvertently in the field of view.
In an article from the June issue of Amateur Photographer magazine, the following advice was offered if you are stopped:
1. Keep a cool head and politely decline to hand over any equipment in the street.
2. Contact a close friend or relative ASAP to tell them what has happened and where you are.
3. Record all ID no's of officers present and the exact time.
4. Do not invite police officers into your home unless they have a search warrant.
5. If charged, the offence may fall within the remit of the Police & Criminal Evidence Act which entitles you to a duty or own solicitor....do not make any comment until your solicitor is present.
6. Gain as much publicity as you can by writing to your local press, MP etc.

[GyRob]

EVEN owning a camera will be against the law in the UK soon this country has gone so down hill i dont know why anyone wants to visit as for prices well we get ripped off everyday .
Rob.

[Simon Spiers]

Be careful not to take photos of kids.
The barmy city council have just introduced new laws prohibiting it
I can not belive this stupid country:mad:
If yoy take a picture of a sheep does that make you a sheep shagger:evil:

[David1943]

And if a mugger tried to snatch my camera or a burglar were breaking into my home and I hit him, not only could I be prosecuted for assaulting him but the criminal could sue me for damages.

Yes, this sad little country is in the state it's in because of loony out of touch politicians and laws which don't reflect public opinion.

Thus said, I do feel that the police need to be given powers to deal with paediophiles but I hope they'll use the new law sensibly and not merely arrest any photographer who inadvertantly includes somebody else's child in his shot.

David

[bachscuttler]

The problem is not just the new law (i can understand to a degree that phaedophiles have to be thwarted at every opportunity)

The real problem is going to be public perception of photographers and people taking the law into their own hands.

Only a month ago, I was taking perfectly innocent action shots of fairground rides and was surrounded by a crowd of about 20 adults and youths accusing me of being a phaedophile and demanding to view the images on my camera.

I had to be very diplomatic and offered to delete all images taken in their presence.
As the law stands outside London, you can take photos in a public place as long as you are not causing a public nuisance or taking photographs of an indecent nature.

You then need to use common sense and get signed the appropriate release forms if you intend to publish them in any way.

The problem with laws like these are that you are guilty until proven innocent and they generate adverse public opinion.

Why not have the power to arrest everyone who owns a PC (just in case they are a phaedophile) or even round everyone up on suspicion of murder just in case?

/rant

[Rob612]

Be careful not to take photos of kids.
The barmy city council have just introduced new laws prohibiting it

Same here, at least they say so. I do not take candids of children usually so I won't bother, but some cities here have local ordnances about that.

[Keiffer]

And if a mugger tried to snatch my camera or a burglar were breaking into my home and I hit him, not only could I be prosecuted for assaulting him but the criminal could sue me for damages.

Yes, this sad little country is in the state it's in because of loony out of touch politicians and laws which don't reflect public opinion.

Thus said, I do feel that the police need to be given powers to deal with paediophiles but I hope they'll use the new law sensibly and not merely arrest any photographer who inadvertantly includes somebody else's child in his shot.

David
On the other extreme end, Florida has recently passed a law that you can "kill" anyone who threstens your well being, whether it be in your house, car or at work. The old law said you had to try to flee the threat before inficting any harm to the other person.
Go figure, welcome to the OK corral.
I thought the U.S. was getting bad with this bull**** Patriot act(Anti terrorism) where they are taking our rights away in the name of National security and we the people are gladly giving our rights away. Hopefully more people catch on to this and start voting out these people who are supposed to be in office to support what the People want, not what they want. We can't say Merry Christmas,have anything do do with Christ( like a manger)because it offends someone that migrated to this country.
And soon owning a camera will be illegal. And the freakin Paparazzi aren't helping things with their new tactics for getting pics, Crashing into celebrities cars or yelling nasty things to enrage them so they can get a better shot.

[chris.bailey]

I can not belive this stupid country:mad:
If yoy take a picture of a sheep does that make you a sheep shagger:evil:

Maybe but there are not too many sheep in Comrade Kens City :-)

[David1943]

[QUOTE=Keiffer]On the other extreme end, Florida has recently passed a law that you can "kill" anyone who threstens your well being, whether it be in your house, car or at work. The old law said you had to try to flee the threat before inficting any harm to the other person.
Go figure, welcome to the OK corral.
I thought the U.S. was getting bad with this bull**** Patriot act(Anti terrorism) where they are taking our rights away in the name of National security and we the people are gladly giving our rights away. Hopefully more people catch on to this and start voting out these people who are supposed to be in office to support what the People want, not what they want. We can't say Merry Christmas,have anything do do with Christ( like a manger)because it offends someone that migrated to this country.

And now here in England they're even stopping the Gideons placing Bibles at the side of hospital beds so as not to offend people of other faiths. So much for tolerance towards the religious beliefs of others.

David

[Penance]

David,
I think the bible idea was to help stop MRSA being taken into the hospital, at least that was how i read it.

[UK_Terry]

David,
I think the bible idea was to help stop MRSA being taken into the hospital, at least that was how i read it.

If this was the case..then what about all the (very old) library Books that are brought round on a trolley, these have been read & touched by hundreds of patients and staff.

[Penance]

I agree, it does seem a weak excuse. I was just saying what i had read, not what i believe.

[RichardtheSane]

I kid not :cry:

Here is an article I just wrote for another forum:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Mayor of London Ken Livingston has introduced restrictions on the photography of children in public places.
The police will have powers to arrest someone on suspicion of taking an indecent photograph without having seen the photographs first.
Equipment covered includes film and digital cameras and camera equipped mobile phones.
Suspects can be arrested and held whilst the police scan your equipment for suspect images and can search your home for images and confiscate home computers for further analysis.
Livingston plans to erect signs on Gtr London Council owned properties amidst fears of vigile antis confiscating equipment and assaulting innocent photographers.
You could fall foul of the law for instance if taking photographs in Trafalgar Square and children are inadvertently in the field of view.
In an article from the June issue of Amateur Photographer magazine, the following advice was offered if you are stopped:
1. Keep a cool head and politely decline to hand over any equipment in the street.
2. Contact a close friend or relative ASAP to tell them what has happened and where you are.
3. Record all ID no's of officers present and the exact time.
4. Do not invite police officers into your home unless they have a search warrant.
5. If charged, the offence may fall within the remit of the Police & Criminal Evidence Act which entitles you to a duty or own solicitor....do not make any comment until your solicitor is present.
6. Gain as much publicity as you can by writing to your local press, MP etc.

Hiya

Do you mind if I crosspost that to another forum I visit (crediting you as the author of course)

It is the sort of warning that can leave a sour taste and shows just how pathetic some of the laws in this country are.

[David1943]

David,
I think the bible idea was to help stop MRSA being taken into the hospital, at least that was how i read it.
Thank you for this information Penance. I hadn't heard about that and so I'll keep an open mind on the subject.

Regards, David :)

[BigBlueDodge]

talk about getting off subject!! This only lasted 3 replies before it took a complete 180 ! :)


Copter, with as many UK members we have on these boards, I'm sure one would take you up on your offer.

[bachscuttler]

Hiya

Do you mind if I crosspost that to another forum I visit (crediting you as the author of course)

It is the sort of warning that can leave a sour taste and shows just how pathetic some of the laws in this country are.

Please do and no need to credit.
Apologies to all for hijacking the thread, it was intended as a friendly warning to someone visiting London...I didn't expect it to generate so many replies or I would have started a new thread :o

[muscleflex]

I'm going to be in London in two weeks. Can I bring anybody anything from the USA?
Copter
hi - it's my first post...so apologies for not introducing myself properly...
i am looking into getting my first 20d and have been looking for the cheapest way to get the camera....so i've been browsing the web...then i came across this post. would you be able to get me this camera? how do i give you the money? where in london are you gonna be? and exactly when?

thanks
patrick

[SkipD]

I would suspect that if someone enters the UK from the USA with a new 20D (or any other expensive items like it) that Customs will know what was brought in and expect it to be taken out. If it doesn't leave with the person bringing it in, there could be significant taxes levied. I would suggest checking out the UK laws before attempting to circumvent the UK import duties.

When I took test equipment into Turkey which was being bought by my customer in Turkey, there were records of it made on my passport. I couldn't leave the country until there was official paperwork clearing the entries on my passport.

[Tom W]

I'm going to be in London in two weeks. Can I bring anybody anything from the USA?
Copter

Could you bring me back an imperial gallon of wry English wit? ;)

[copter105]

Could you bring me back an imperial gallon of wry English wit? ;)

What kind of container do you think would hold it?

Sorry about the post folks. Too many email replies for stuff so I must recant what I originally said. Interesting hijack on the thread though. Didn't know the UK had that many wierd laws.
Copter

[pierrot]

Didn't know the UK had that many weird laws.
Hehe, try guess which country they take as an example? :mrgreen:

[muscleflex]

yeah.. :-( unfortunately, this country (UK) has a lot of weird laws to try and protect everyone but i don't know whether it actually helps everybody!

[muscleflex]

thanks for the offer tho....
i've decided to just get one off eBay...(yikes)

[copter105]

yeah.. :-( unfortunately, this country (UK) has a lot of weird laws to try and protect everyone but i don't know whether it actually helps everybody!

We got the same problems here!!!

[Tom W]

What kind of container do you think would hold it?


I recommend dividing the wit evenly between 4 large zip-lock bags, and then placing the bags in 4 separate bags. It helps to surround the bags with coffee grounds to cover up the smell. Customs agents are in great need of wit and humour and are willing to confiscate yours if they catch wind of it.

[muscleflex]

have ended up getting a 20d and lens from eBay - from a seller called 123 F stop. his feedbacks are all good....so i can't wait!!!

[*Zwitter*]

Can I have some cinnamon twists (from Taco Bell) please? :)

[etaf]

In the UK digital cameras are zero rated for inport duty - so all you need is to pay the 17.5% VAT.
Customs have a database of serial numbers and can trace the camera to its originall market.

The other thing to consider is what you will do if the product goes wrong

[chris clements]

I work in the City of London - I can probably get you a good deal on the bridge right outside my office.
Hi to everyone in Lake Havasu City.

[muscleflex]

I work in the City of London - I can probably get you a good deal on the bridge right outside my office.
Hi to everyone in Lake Havasu City.

oh man - sorry i missed this one. i've ended up getting one on ebay. UK seller. price i paid: £837 for the body and lens kit.
he had another on on auction which i missed and ended with £730 so i ended up just going for the buying it now option.
but thanks for the offer....i'm sure i'll take my new camera there to take some shots of the bridge!

[I Simonius]

Be careful not to take photos of kids.
The barmy city council have just introduced new laws prohibiting it

Yeah - no Joke!

[I Simonius]

I can not belive this stupid country:mad:
If yoy take a picture of a sheep does that make you a sheep shagger:evil:

only if you're wearing welllies at tthe same time :lol:




-just in case some don't get that - the joke is that the perp puts the sheeps back legs into the wellington boots (wellies) to keep it still - sounds daft but it is a joke!

[I Simonius]

The problem is not just the new law (i can understand to a degree that phaedophiles have to be thwarted at every opportunity)

The real problem is going to be public perception of photographers and people taking the law into their own hands.

Only a month ago, I was taking perfectly innocent action shots of fairground rides and was surrounded by a crowd of about 20 adults and youths accusing me of being a phaedophile and demanding to view the images on my camera.

I had to be very diplomatic and offered to delete all images taken in their presence.
As the law stands outside London, you can take photos in a public place as long as you are not causing a public nuisance or taking photographs of an indecent nature.

You then need to use common sense and get signed the appropriate release forms if you intend to publish them in any way.

The problem with laws like these are that you are guilty until proven innocent and they generate adverse public opinion.

Why not have the power to arrest everyone who owns a PC (just in case they are a phaedophile) or even round everyone up on suspicion of murder just in case?

/rant

Minority report ;)

[I Simonius]

Maybe but there are not too many sheep in Comrade Kens City :-)

could'a fooled me - if the citizens let him impose these restictions be they not sheep?

[muscleflex]

well, my camera has arrived! i'm just charging now! i can't wait to play with it tonight!!! got a new 512 PQI 40x card to start off with...(ebuyer doesn't have the sandisk ultra II in stock)