hmm – I’ve taken loads of photos of telephone exchanges, electricity infrastructure and railway/transport stuff and never been challenged – and I’m British Asian! I am however careful what resolutions/angles I use and don’t use big SLR cameras.
I also don’t want random scum using a photo I took to try and rob copper out of a exchange or substation because my employers in a rural area need reliable telecoms and leccy!
I think the problem here is the Terrorism Act is being wrongly used when there should be other more commonsense laws about privacy and security balancing the right to photograph something or someone against the responsibilities of being a photographer.
If someone is carrying out a controversial (but legal) job they still have the right to their security and safety at work there have been precedents of businesses (particularly restaurants in the East London and Essex areas) having photographs of them used to locate entry and exit points and the businesses subsequently being violently robbed.
I wonder how many of the photographers, (most of whom tend to be “freelance journos”) with all their high value camera equipment, would be happy to have me standing outside their place of work or their house taking photos of their front door and all their windows, and what car they drive, perhaps a few of their family members, or their work colleagues? Even if I just had an interest in architecture (which I do) or just wanted “candid photos of local British people” would they be happy about it or would they feel uneasy and want to know what I was up to?
What if I disagreed with some sort of photo one of these dudes had taken and wanted to get info on them hence taking my pictures? (which is the justification a lot of “activist photographers” use). there’s also a lot of voyeurs/stalkers about, and a lot of instances of high resolution pictures of people being used without their permission. The Terrorism Act isn’t the correct way of dealing with this (in many cases its a civil matter) but some balance should be found.
even today compared to many foreign country’s Britain is much more lax about what you can and can’t take photos of…
OTOH I don’t even share my rave pictures other than with very close friends any more as I respect peoples privacy.
I can understand people wanting to be able to take photos of coppers misbehaving, but how would we feel if a random came to one of our raves, took loads of pics of us taking drugs, maybe being a bit loud etc, and dobbed them all in to the cops? anyway if someone really wants a photo of someone else what doesn’t want to be seen there’s plenty of covert kit available..
