Amateur Photographer Bob Patefield is basically harassed and eventually arrested and held for 8 hours for refusing to give the police his name and address after taking photos of a Christmas celebration in a town center. Very clearly we’re all a bunch of terrorists with cameras.
In case you’re keeping score:
- Average Joe Photographer (0)
- Terrorist Induced Paranoia (1)
I’m sorry but this is insane! Photographers in the UK have been protesting against this apparently abused anti-terrorism law for the past year. Even holding a “Mass Photo Gathering” in Trafalgar Square this past January drawing nearly 2,000 photographers. Check out a Flickr stream of the event here. You’ll find even more photos under in the ”I’m a photographer, not a terrorist” group. Kudos to Bob as well as all the other photographers who are standing up for what I consider to be a basic right.
More DWF articles:
- I’M A PHOTOGRAPHER NOT A TERRORIST
- PHOTOGRAPHY IS NOT A CRIME
- UK – METROPOLITAN POLICE TO IGNORE SHOOTERS
via|guardian UK|DWF Pro member Lucas Tingle
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5 Comments at "Photographer Films His Own Arrest"
“Anti-social” behavior?” That’s the best they could come up with?
I have to side with the police. In the US the police have the right to stop suspicious people and ask for Identification. Failure to produce could get you arrested for vagrancy.
Did not see enough of the actions of the “Photographer” however he was uncooperative to a fairly polite professional group of police officers. The females officers could have my “Details” anytime.
This is a set up by an anti social trouble maker, IMO.
This photographer is as arrogant as they come and purposely set this up for a sensational story. This damages the reputation of real street and press photographers that may have been dealt with negatively by these new rules in the UK.
And if think this will NOT happen here in the future – just wait. Maybe not this year or next but, if you recall the paranoia after 9/11 and the zeal for the Iraq war, you will know that governments love to justify their actions by using fear.
Sad.
Are you serious? he is arrogant? The UK is getting a large amount of world press for becoming a police state.
These people are just tired of being bullied and treated like “subjects”. The UK is out of control.
Don’t ever consent to a vehicle search, ever. This is something any honest police officer will tell you. When they ask to search you or your car its not for your own good or to be nice to you. Their looking to get something to arrest you with. Regardless of your guilt you should always decline. If they can legally search it they will, with your permission or not. Just be polite. They have an important job to do and (usually) deserve polite respect.
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