Carrying a monopod...with intent.

OK, so as a bizarre but humerous (i guess) story this is one of the best i've had. But, it serves to show just how much our civil liberties in the UK are being eroded...

Saturday just gone I was going off to photograph my local "Football League Championship" team playing in what was described as a Derby match (why I have no idea as the opposing team are from 94 miles away). As a result, there was a fairly large police prescence.

I turned up to the ground 2 hours before kick-off but as I was walking past the compound where the away fans were to be held before entering the ground I was stopped by a police officer in riot gear.

What follows is a snippet of conversation:

PC Plod: What's that (pointing at expensive Manfrotto carbon monopod)?

Me: That's my monopod officer

PC Plod: Why have you got it?

Me: I'm a photographer, I use it to rest my camera on

PC Plod: What camera?

Me: The one in this case (pointing at Peli 1560 case with multiple stickers on).

PC Plod: Are you trying to be funny?

Me: No officer, it's cold and I need to get to the press room to pick up my pass and bib.

PC Plod: Don't be funny, you're too young to be a photographer (I take this as a compliment personally)

Me: Well, I have my UK Press Card if you'd like to see it?

PC Plod: I don't care if you have a press card, I don't have to look at that (funny as it says it's recognised by the Association of Chief Police Officers)

Me: It is a recognised form of ID for photographers and the press.

PC Plod: I don't care, I would like to search you under section 44 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 2008.

At this point I am beginning to see that he is a bit of a jobsworth etc. I calmly point out that the UK Press card is a valid form of ID and that S.44 of the anti-terrorism act states that I can only be searched if i'm a terrorist suspect, acting suspiciously or hindering a police operation.

Asking why I am about to be searched, I was told "you have a weapon (Manfrotto Carbon Monopod) and I have reason to believe that you wish to use it".

At this point I simply could not help but laugh, really tried hard but it was impossible.

Get accused of being obstructive, and then get everything (EVERYTHING) searched by two rude PC's who looked at all my images, laptop, pass, cameras, mobile phone.

So, this is how I had a monopod with intent...remember folks, it's not just a tool to hold up a heavy telephoto, you can take it too football riots too!!!

Seriously though, this is becoming more and more common, and the serious message to all of POTN in the UK is this: Our rights as photographers are being eroded to the point of non-existence. It IS NOT ILLEGAL to be a photographer in this country, and everyone who wishes to carry on with it, be it as a hobby or a profession needs to stand up and be counted as saying "I WILL NOT BE THREATENED INTO GIVING UP MY RIGHT TO PHOTOGRAPH".

I urge everyone to write to your MP or the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and ask them both, why do they wish to disrupt the activity of legitimate professionals and citizens? Petition and protest Photographers!! Stop more of us being threatened with arrest, detention and harrasment simply for the sake of carrying a camera (or monopod) with intent.

James.

Sorry to hear about your mishap with the police, but I have to say I do LOVE the english's vernacular.

liam5100 wrote in post #6857193
Sorry to hear about your mishap with the police, but I have to say I do LOVE the english's vernacular.

How do you mean?

James,

I am really sorry to hear this and just goes to show how crazy (read: paranoid) the world is becoming.

Was this fixture in Bristol? Seems to be the epicentre of madness for photograpers at the moment

Imagine what would have happened if that policeman had arrived to my situation? Imagine what would have happened if that woman was near you during your ordeal? (terrorist next to her children - think how she's react to that!!)

How did this pan out? Were you actually searched? Please tell me how this ended?

Regards,

Bruce (of Bristolshire)

Roy Mathers wrote in post #6857420
How do you mean?

Your use of the english language compared to us americans, the slang, the phrasing etc.

Wow, you can't even carry a stick in Britain these days?

Between this and Mystery Machine's incident, I can't imagine what you guys have to put up with over there. It can be bad over here sometimes, but wow.

Should've stick it under his chin and told him was for supporting pricks.

liam5100 wrote in post #6857550
Your use of the english language compared to us americans, the slang, the phrasing etc.

Yes, we still have the quaint habit of using capital letters for words like 'English' and 'American'.

That is crazy, I could only imagine what would have happened at a Cardiff v Swansea match

Terrible though, I was stopped with my father the other evening in Cardiff which has never happened before - However, this was on private property at the Cardiff Winter Wonderland.

Has anyone drafted a template on the forum to send to the Home Secretary or whatnot? It would be nice to have some for of response and rights to carry in my bag.

I would write one but I wouldn't know how best to word it to be honest.

martin j wrote in post #6857576
Should've stick it under his chin and told him was for supporting pricks.

I'm sure that would have elicited a very friendly response from the policeman!

jamesb84 wrote in post #6857163
Asking why I am about to be searched, I was told "you have a weapon (Manfrotto Carbon Monopod) and I have reason to believe that you wish to use it".

If it would be me instead of you, this idiot would actually be right. Yes I would actually wish to use it... to smash his stupid head.

Dork Knight wrote in post #6857897
That is crazy, I could only imagine what would have happened at a Cardiff v Swansea match

Terrible though, I was stopped with my father the other evening in Cardiff which has never happened before - However, this was on private property at the Cardiff Winter Wonderland.

Has anyone drafted a template on the forum to send to the Home Secretary or whatnot? It would be nice to have some for of response and rights to carry in my bag.

I would write one but I wouldn't know how best to word it to be honest.

Ironically, I've covered both Swansea v Cardiff games this season (Carling Cup in Sept) and 2 weekends ago in the league. Both games were heavily policed but other being held in the ground afterwards to allow the police to clear the press car park of fans, absolutely no trouble at all for us! But plenty of trouble between fans and police and rival fans.

In fact, a good bit of banter with the dog handlers who were stood next to us, I also made £1.40 in change thrown between the 2 sets of fans at the Carling Cup game.

Mystery Machine, yeah this was at Ashton Gate this weekend just gone. I allowed myself to be searched in the end, simply because it was cold and i just wanted to get into the ground, but I have written to the Chief Constable and had a response.

James.

martin j wrote in post #6857576
Should've stick it under his chin and told him was for supporting pricks.

Thats classic. I literall LOL'ed in my cubicle!

It is amazing how everyone can judge a situation when it is only presented from one side, great balance. I wold love to here the Policemans take on the situation before I called anyone a prick.

And DDCSD please do not feel too sorry for us, whilst we suffer a little as a result of the world situation our freedoms are still pretty safe. Whilst the occasional over zealous policeman may overstep the mark our "freedoms" are still pretty much in tact, we certainly do not have anything as draconian as the "Patriot Act" to restrict us.

jamesb84 wrote in post #6858423
I allowed myself to be searched in the end, simply because it was cold and i just wanted to get into the ground, but I have written to the Chief Constable and had a response.

James.

So it was optional and required consent, see I knew we still lived in a democracy