Carrying a monopod...with intent.

neil_r wrote in post #6889342
A bit of petrol (gas) for the fire.

Not too good to watch....

http://www.boingboing.​net …visitor-to-london-vi.html

Wow.

I used to go all over the UK with a camera and a tripod back in the early 80's without being noticed except for my American western dress and boots. I will have to dig up the negatives from one of the first NFL games at Wembly Stadium and scan them in to the computer.

Man, that sucks....

Sounds too much like Fascism to me. It's sad that people are so paranoid to the point were they don't even need an excuse to search you.

What, exactly, kind of weapon looks like a monopod? Seriously, it is complete stupidity.

TheSportsGuy wrote in post #6899962
Man, that sucks....

Sounds too much like Fascism to me. It's sad that people are so paranoid to the point were they don't even need an excuse to search you.

What, exactly, kind of weapon looks like a monopod? Seriously, it is complete stupidity.

Pipe Bomb comes to mind...

So this is what I have to look forward to during my three year assignment to the UK? Good to know this up front as I plan on occasionally carrying my camera and monopod with me on trips into London and around the UK. My family and I are very much looking forward to the move.

Here are a few links from the week after the rozzers were told to lay off. Just imagine, while they are wasting yours and their time there could be a real terrorist gathering intel on his mobile phone. But, having said that, we all know terrorists only use hulking great DSLRs to do recon with, so as not to draw attention to themselves.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/​1/hi/8384972.stm

http://www.guardian.co​.uk …ographer-terrorism-powers

http://www.guardian.co​.uk …ial-branch-terror-suspect

http://www.nuj.org.uk/​innerPagenuj.html?doci​d=1439

http://www.amateurphot​ographer.co.uk …er_story_news_2​92827.html


I've been stopped a number of times now, and on two of those occasions for just carrying a camera, with the strap slung over my shoulder, camera hanging.

I don't understand why these rozzers don't even understand s44. When you ask them perfectly legitimate questions about the stop and search, nine times out of ten they have to radio in for advice and clarification. If they are using s44 to this degree then they should know the part of the act they're using inside out.

This thread is getting to be like Christmas, it comes round every year in December

There's been a rash of it this week, the week after the chief constables have told them to lay off, almost as if they've got a point to prove. I wonder if it would make the news if it wasn't the press who were getting pulled up?

sinister wrote in post #9183182
There's been a rash of it this week, the week after the chief constables have told them to lay off, almost as if they've got a point to prove. I wonder if it would make the news if it wasn't the press who were getting pulled up?

My guess is no. On the Andrew Marr clip it was interesting that the Police Officer said that it was the "support officer" with her that thought the activity was suspicious

I was taking a picture of the local elderly residents having a wee protest recently, literally within five metres of my front door. I got off one shot on my old spotmatic before being confronted by a pcso and told I needed to have the permission of every one in the picture before taking an image. I explained the legislation to her but she wouldn't have it, taking the camera from me and threatening to expose the film. The WPC with her who she spoke to for advice had no idea about s44 either, she refereed her to the nearby sergeant. After about 15 minutes faffing and me explaining s44 to her and what she could and couldn't do, she led me over to the sergeant. She then proceeded to relay to the sergeant what I had told her, after which the sergeant said, "yes he's absolutely right in what he says, give him back his camera". I couldn't help but have a smug look on my face, and the look on the PCSOs face was priceless.

But once again the Met ending out people without enough information about the laws they are supposed to be enforcing. It's all very well them quoting section 44 anti terrorism at people, but you'd think they'd at least have some sort of understanding of the legislation they are trying to use against you.

sinister wrote in post #9183294
I was taking a picture of the local elderly residents having a wee protest .

A fine choice of words Sir!

We (no pun honest!) all get there eventually!

neil_r wrote in post #9183168
This thread is getting to be like Christmas, it comes round every year in December

Wow, was it really a year ago I was subjected to Bristol City v Burnley and got S&S'ed...let's see, in the proceeding 12 months I have been stopped twice more and had s76 threatened to one of my (now former) employers over a shot taken outside a local derby game and the police presence.

Nothing changes, I'm collecting my stop and search forms like Top Trumps now.

Ooo I'm still after an s76!

sinister wrote in post #9215666
Ooo I'm still after an s76!

Now that's all blown over (the game was back in April and it's only just sorted) I have to say that an s.76 is a LOT scarier than a s.44

It got to the point with solicitors and some very nastily worded letters from the Police Service concerned.

Given that this probably would have been a landmark case if it had gone to court...I (and/or my employers) could have been facing a maximum of 10yrs imprisonment!!

It was not a nice experience at all.