The airport in which I had my polite encounter with a security person was the one which had the "drive in check in" attempt a year or so before. So perhaps people were still understandably a little on edge. I certainly got no sympathy from my own family.

My point was that these situations are better dealt with in a non confrontational manner. I have taken video and still photos in other airports and many "public" places since and not had any problems. When somebody asks what I am doing I explain politely rather than being evasive and certainly not engaging in a rant about rights.

350 UK Photographers Sign Sunday Telegraph Letter About Right to Film in Public
 

Latest development in the long running story of making the Police more aware of our right to take pictures/film in public places is discussed here, a letter in today's Sunday Telegraph signed by over 350 professional UK photographers...

Photographers issue plea to end 'hostile' public searches under anti-terror laws - Telegraph

Here's another instance.

Royal watchers stunned as Sandringham officers swoop in and seize their cameras | Mail Online

I was in Llandudno photographing the "pier of the year" and some other beach scenery. Whenever there were people close up in the shot, I asked their permission verbally.
I was using my Leica and was wearing a suit (not really appropriate beach attire - I know)

When I go back on the street 2 policecars came from opposite directions and 2 officers jumped out while the drivers remained inside. they came to me and asked me what I am doing. I told them I was taking pictures. Why? they wanted to know. I am a photographer- I replied. and so on. They demanded to see my passport and radioed in the details, only to find out that there was nothing on me in their database.

They wanted to see what kinds of pictures I was taking, but I could not show them, because the Leica M6 is an analog model. I explained to them that I am a professional photographer and showed them a business card and membership card of a professional photographers association. They were friendly at all times and believed me.

When I asked how come they came to stop me, they said that there was a "report of male taking photographs on beach". So I guess they have to come.

OK - no harm done so far. They filled out their report (which is hanging in my office as a trophy now) which has a nice logo in the shape of a stop signal, saying "STOP - YOUR BEHAVIOUR IS UNACCEPTABLE" (also in Welsh)
it bears the handwritten comment "nfa" for "no further action".

The next day, I called the police and asked what would happen to that report now.
They told me it will get filed somewhere. I asked - so what if I take pictures in a park in London or anywhere else and get stopped by the police, they radio in my identity information and then they would hear back that "there was something in Llandudno, but no further action was taken..." this could possibly put me in a disadvantageous position.
The police officer replied, that I should inform the police each time before I take a picture, that I plan to do so...
Hmmmm.... (I think I will just go some other place than England)

Maybe this has been posted, but here it is anyway:

Photographers criminalised as police 'abuse' anti-terror laws - Home News, UK - The Independent

Manchester man arrested for alleged sewer-grate photography, held as a terrorist - Boing Boing

UK Photographers Rights v2 ? Sirimo Photo

I'm deeply sorry and ashamed that you were treated this way, but even more so that you're now a "person of interest" to the police. I think you are well advised not to come back here since it obviously doesn't take much for the protectors of our freedoms to decide you're a threat.

One thing you might want to do - write to Llandudno Council, who will have a tourism section, and explain to them that the police don't like tourists coming to take photos of their pier. They might well have enough influence with the local police to reduce the chance of this happening to anyone else.

Of course, it may be that sophisticated profiling analysis has revealed that Swiss visitors in suits at beaches are a special threat to our way of life - but somehow I doubt it.

Well in a certain way, I understand that the police have to act if someone "reports" something. And I also understand that it might be protocol that a written report is issued and a copy given to the questionned individual. But how far it gets taken and whether "no further action" is the correct conclusion - I don't know.

The problem I see is that people, general public, are paranoid and scared. The media is really not helping with constant reports of all the evil in the world. Worries me where all this will end up. It seems similar to the time where in Germany the statement: "I think my neighbour is harboring Jews" could cause tons of problems.
Which may have not been an issue in the UK but parallels to today's issues are frightening...

Filming rights in the UK
 

Having just spent a three weeks over in the UK filming, mainly in London, we had very little problem with either the police or CSOs... as long as we had our documentation and shooting permits with us. Be prepared and when you get pulled up, and if you are using full sized kit as we were you most likely will get pulled up, happened to us numerous times us. You will have the paperwork to cover your reasons for being there. If you have any queries the London Metropolitan Police Film Unit is a good place to enquire as to your filming rights. We found them very helpful.

Metropolitan Police Service - Film Unit

Additionally if you carry the following document regarding media rights, issued by the police's own 'Association of Chief Police Officers', see the attachment, it's a big help in smoothing out any police queries. It clearly outlines your rights to film in public places to any police or CSO officers who aren't up to speed on the media rights in the UK. A couple of times this put over zealous officers back in their box.

By way of contrast we were filming in Berlin a week later and filmed where and when we liked and other than a glance and a nod with the officers we were left totally undisturbed to shoot as we wished.

excellent - might be helpful in other places in the UK as well. - thank you very much

It's tough to define suspicious or threatening activity, mistakes will be made, and we should respect that. No-one gets it right all the time.

But that doesn't negate the need for some common sense. What we want the police to do is protect 'us' rom 'them', not assume that we're all 'them'

Terrorists I can handle. What truly scares me is an attack of the stupids.

Andrew

Last week the European Court ruled that Police powers to use terror laws to stop and search people without grounds for suspicion are illegal. Not just for photographers but for anyone BBC News - Stop-and-search powers ruled illegal by European court

It probably won't be a good idea to quote this ruling when arguing the toss with a policeman or CSO at present as the UK Government is appealing against the ruling & Chief Constable Craig Mackey of the Association of Chief Police Officers said officers would continue to use stop and search powers while the appeal was pending.

There is a demonstration of professional and amateur photographers in Trafalgar Square, London today 23rd January to protest this issue. BBC News - Photographers protest over UK terror search laws

And here's Sky News coverage of that event in Trafalgar Square - with short video report as well, which would indicate that their cameraman was not stopped/prevented from doing his job by the police today! It might have caused a riot if he was! :-)

Photographers Hold Protest In Trafalgar Square Over Stop And Search Action | UK News | Sky News

The report on BBC Radio said that there were 3000 photographers demonstrating in Trafalgar Square.

That hotbed of activism Amateur Photographer magazine has a report with photos In pictures: Photographers turn out in force to fight anti terror law abuse (update 6.15pm) news - Amateur Photographer - news, camera reviews, lens reviews, camera equipment guides, photography courses, competitions, photography forums

At the bottom of this page AP also has a large collection of other stories of police abuse of their powers Photographers to storm Trafalgar Square in protest over terror laws news - Amateur Photographer - news, camera reviews, lens reviews, camera equipment guides, photography courses, competitions, photography forums I particularly liked the item about the ITN film crew who were shooting a piece on a guy photographing Wren churches who had previously fallen foul of a police stop & search who were themselves stopped by police in the City & told that filming was not allowed.

And here's a CNN article

Photographers protest UK terror law - CNN.com

You realise, don't you, that telling people that the police have stopped someone interviewing someone who was stopped for taking pictures is probably a contravention of the aforementioned legislation. I'm not naming the legislation, because that in itself is possibly a breach, in that it's telling terrorists that we have legislation that may or may not be concerned with their actions, or intentions.

It gets more silly

Presenters quizzed over hairdryers - Yahoo! News UK

Hilarious. If this was in Australia, it would just about set off a new national sport!

Andrew

Of course, if it's raining you could use one of these on your camera as you take your pictures/video in public here in the UK. Guess what, you'll be in a nice warm, dry police station in no time!!!!

Hydrophobia rain cover promises to keep your DSLR dry, mysterious -- Engadget

Sorry, couldn't resist it! ;-)

haha - even on the engadget site there is a discussion about getting arrested for using this thing...

Slight prob when filming in a railway station
 

Arriving at Newcastle yesterday I was asked to stop filming the EastCoast (rebadged National Express) train I had just got off as it departed on its way to Kings Cross. The station employee did however encourage me to report to the Duty Manager to obtain a permit to continue filming. I did this was was told of the restrictions (no flash photography, no tripods, stay in designated publicly accessible areas). Armed with my pass, I was not challenged further when I returned in the afternoon to do a bit of filming and catch the train back.

It was not clear how I was expected to go back through the ticket barrier to return the permit to the office after filming my train arriving - I rather doubt it would have waited for me. So maybe I'll get an permit in advance the next time I'm filming at an unfamiliar station. I had forgotten that not all stations are run by Network Rail who are quite welcoming to anoraks like me - they have a page for railway nutters Network Rail - Railway Enthusiasts with helpful advice for avoiding problems.

A few years (well maybe MANY years ago) I did a lot of photographing in the Boston subways - I had a similar experience in that they told me I needed a permit - which they were more than happy to give me. Of course as part of getting the permit I had to sign an insurance waiver that absolved them of any responsibility if I for example backed up to get a better shot and backed clear off the platfom

Rather reasonable I thought.

It goes from bad to worse here in the UK. A dad can't even take a snap of his kid in public now!

Man Suspected Of Being A Paedophile For Taking A Photo Of His Own Son While Out Shopping | UK News | Sky News

Terrorism is one thing .... what really scares me is an attack of the stupids.

Andrew

Very interesting these responses, and reading the OP's blog article. I think in all elements reported here it is the context that is important.

Many years ago I was producing a doco which needed visits to Blackpool and we had shots of the Pleasure Beach interiors (private property). This was not long after this area had some bad press. I had previously spoken and agreed access with the owners, told them what we were doing etc... and paid filming rights...

Come the day my crew and I entered the area and we were stopped and questioned quite intensely. It was only when I produced documents and after their security had contacted key people that we were allowed access. Same thing applied in rail stations.

That was 15 years ago. Today, it is more intense, but I think the same rules do apply:

1. Make sure you contact the RIGHT people.

2. Get the RIGHT agreement and clearance.

3. In the UK, contact any local authority, council or city department in ADDITION to the private "principal" individual.

4. Obtain permissions in writing.

5. Have available and by agreement contact numbers in order to refer enquiries.

Worked for me across many complicated shoots - then.

Dare say things may have changed on a number of levels, including idiots in uniform, social paranoia and even more idiots in uniform possibly with some having a grade C pass in woodwork.

:)

"having a grade C pass in woodwork" ... that's quite an euphemism you've got there!

LOL! Classic!

Andrew

Now now now - don't diss woodwork. Maybe saying a grade C in personal hygiene would be more appropriate

Funnily enough, I had almost the exact opposite experience today in Lancaster station.
On leaving the Glasgow train, I saw a British Transport polisman on the platform and asked him for permission to film my departing train as I had not had time to "sign in" with the Station Manager. It took a few attempts to communicate this to him, the station staff and the "team leader" (apparently some stations have gone the way of Banks regarding managers). I was eventually asked "So you just want to film a train?" which is a breath of fresh air as far as I am concerned. I was suddenly transported back to to the 1970s when people who photographed or filmed trains were regarded as harmless eccentrics (in which category I should almost certainly be put).

The man collecting train numbers was also left in peace although I can't say with certainty that he wasn't plotting some awful crime.

Railway fiming permit
 

Sorry this is more anorak railway stuff but it might be of interest.

I was filming my son sitting in an empty train at a rural terminus recently. The guard noticed me, said I really should have a permit, but could continue filming until the point when other passengers boarded the coach. I though he was being a bit over cautious but was at least trying to help, so complied meekly.

I then wrote of the the TOC (Train Operating Company) to clarify the rules. At first they said that I should fill in the filming permit application anyway, gave me a link and I downloaded it. It is clearly for major productions and contained the following chilling statement:

I wrote back and said that "I am concerned that by submitting a completed application form that I would be committing myself to a payment of £1292.50 each for the three hour outward and return journeys which seems a little excessive for a family day trip."

Here's the useful bit - they replied

So it just rests on the interpretation of the "standard handheld video camera". For me a Canon HV-30 rather than an XH-A1 (it's to bulky anyway) and don't pimp it up with long furry things. I still intend to use a small support bracket and a W/A converter.

This EU ruling may be of interest:

Home Office reviewing European Court appeal rejection over Section 44 - British Journal of Photography

Information Commissioner issues ruling
 

Interesting development over school paranoia about taking photos of Nativity Plays:
BBC News - Nativity photos not against law, says data watchdog

Link to statement: http://www.ico.gov.uk/ (In latest news section)
I had to change the file extension from .ashx to .pdf to read it - YMMV

Full guidelines at http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documen...ing_photos.pdf