Documentary photographer Jonathan Warren has recently written about his experience with some heavy-handed policing of journalists covering a protest in Brighton.
In his blog he writes that members of the Police Forward Intelligence Team (FIT) filmed him and a collegue as they sat in their car waiting for the protest to begin and continued to do so despite identifying themselves as members of the press.
A quote from his blog highlights his feelings:
"The Police’s job would certainly be easier if we weren’t around to photograph what they do, but there is a clearly a very good reason to do so."MP for Great Grimsby and keen amatuer photographer Austin Mitchell recently tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons condemning police action against lawful photography in public places.
The motion can be read on the UK Parliament website and also shows a list of the other MPs that are backing the motion. If your local MP isn't in the list, why not petition them to put their name down - you can use this form to find out who your local MP is.
The London Metropoliton Police recently launched a poster campaign which has met with some criticism from the photography community, particularly with amatuers who enjoy taking shots in one of the most photogenic cities in the world.
The poster in question is part of the Mets anti-terrorism campaign which advertises an anti-terror hotline for members of the public to call if they see anyone acting suspiciously, the particular act to be concerned about is people taking photos.
This in conjunction with the apparent growing number of police in London stopping and searching photographers under the terrorism act has meant that some photographers are becoming increasingly frustraited with the current situation.
The mets anti-terrorism poster (click for larger view)
The frustration has led to a group has beening set up on the photosharing site Flickr which contains some rather more satirical versions of the red poster.
