Photographers Rights - Again!

Jen over at JENQUEST encountered a couple of armed police officers while taking a photo of the Houses of Parliament recently. There was an article in a recent edition of Amateur Photography magazine regarding our rights as photographers. Here’s what they say:

Despite what some overzealous security guards and police officers might tell you, or believe, there is NO law against photographers making their images in public. What this means for architectural photographers is that so long as you are in a PUBLIC SPACE your are entitled to take images of privately owned buildings.

Defining public space can be difficult but if you’re on a footpath, pavement (sidewalk) or road you can assume that you’re on public property. Look out for information about where you are i.e. signs stating you are in a private place, no trespassing, private property etc.

If you are challenged, be polite and cooperative but remember: the police cannot stop you making images in a public place, nor can they search you, seize your camera(s), or view your images UNLESS they have reasonable suspicion that you are involved in a criminal activity or that you’re a terrorist (s.43 Terrorism Act 2000 defines this). They can’t demand memory cards or delete images, or ask you to delete them, WITHOUT a COURT ORDER.

Security guards have NO power to stop & search you, & if they threaten you they COULD be committing an offence of assault. The same rules also apply to security staff as to police: they can’t seize your camera, ask to see your images, delete them or ask you to. Only if you’re on private property can they use reasonable force to remove you, but they CANNOT impound or tamper with equipment or delete or demand images be deleted.

There are some exceptions for commercial photography, including the following London sites: Trafalgar Square & Parliament Square, some Royal Parks, and “sensitive” Government buildings, including Ministry of Defence ones. And remember that if there are railings between the building and the pavement it will generally indicate that the building is private.

I hope that this is helpful to UK residents and to those who may be considering trips as tourists to the UK.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THIS IS APPLICABLE ONLY TO THE UK AND THE LAWS IN OTHER COUNTRIES MAY BE DIFFERENT

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REBLOG FOR THE GENERAL USE OF OTHERS HERE ON TUMBLR

Bonne lumière!

PS - it’s a good photo, too, so go take a look at it!