Is it illegal to take a photograph of a Policeman or Community Support Officer on duty in the UK?
I know they video us and take pics with impunity, and at the G8 summit I remember BOTH sides videoing events for obvious reasons, but is a person allowed to take pictures and what , if any, limitations are there inherent to this, ie, can you publish them on a website or must you keep them as a private record only?
Serious replies only, thanks "I don't know" replies will be reported for point gaming.
See how strongly I feel about this particular subject???
2007-01-12 10:28:52 · 9 answers · asked by fivehundredmonkeys 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Max - read yr email. If you don't like it, don't read or reply. Nobody forces you. People like you are the reason I use this service so infrequently. The best bit of you dribbled down the dogs leg that had your mummy.
2007-01-12 10:51:04 · update #1
Bulb - tyvm....
2007-01-12 12:07:17 · update #2
well i see your point in this culture these days nobody particularly public servants should beyond reproach so i think yes you should be able to do this !
2007-01-12 10:32:51 · answer #1 · answered by Andrew1968 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes you can take pictures, and if you are taking them as evidence of some wrong doing or failing on the part of the officer I'm sure you could submit them as evidence. The important thing to remember is the Human Rights Act. Article 8: RIGHT TO RESPECT FOR PRIVATE AND FAMILY LIFE.
This is open to interpetation, but as police are not encouraged to work in their local area, it may jeapardise the safety of the officers/their famimlies if the wrong people find out what they do for a living.
I'm an officer and work in central London, many tourists take pictures, this isn't a problem for me, however, I live in a pretty anti police area and I would not want my picture on a website. I have children who may get hassled as a result of my career.
Also a note to the answerer who thinks that police are public servants. This is your opinion, not fact. The job of the police is actually to "Keep the Queen's peace", this is what all police officers swear to do when they are attested, I did not attest to being a public servant. Police enforce laws, we're not civil servants.
We serve the monarch, not the public. This is why our badges have E II R on them
2007-01-12 19:55:37 · answer #2 · answered by THE BULB 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are perfectly entitled to take a picture however the challenge is how you use it and in what context it is published. if it is to stir "hatred" or violence clearly this is wrong. Equally if you are disclosing confidential information then this is another issue. So it is more the problem of what you do with the photo rather than the actual taking of it.
PS ignore the immature and futile comments from some of the irresponsible idiots who respond - the good news is theya re in the minority.
2007-01-14 12:03:59 · answer #3 · answered by Chiclad 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are allowed to photograph a police officer but only to the same extent you are allowed to photograph any individual person you do not know. You can display them in the same capacity that you can display any photos of any normal person.
I think a police officer in certain dangerous lines of work (such as a gang infiltrator) may have special rights to anonymity for safety reasons - which I think is more than fair really in that circumstance as it could easily lead to their deaths if their identity was publicly displayed.
2007-01-12 18:40:07 · answer #4 · answered by monkeymanelvis 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think there is probably some weight under the Data Protection Act to protect individual's rights when it comes to personal data. However, as it is not sensitive personal data you may be able to get around it.
It is a tricky question.
Try the Information Commissioners website for information on it.
2007-01-12 18:35:07 · answer #5 · answered by button_mushroom_x 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i'd say not illegal, having worked in law and in uniform in the past I have always agreed when asked. I have been asked by tourists and students doing projects on "people in authority" in the past.
we were and i'd say they are told to say no but there are so many tourists i dont see the harm in it in specific areas of london.
i dont know about the legal aspect of taking photos for publishing on websites, i'd guess it'd depend on the reasons behind it. all sorts of pictures are published without express permission being granted.
2007-01-12 18:35:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
it is not illegal to do so, however if you publish such photographs in a newspaper/magazine, on the television or on the internet in such a way the person can be identified, they can sue you
2007-01-16 16:17:14 · answer #7 · answered by vdv_desantnik 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You had a genuinely interesting question, right up to the point when you said you would report someone that didn't know.
After that it looked as if you were a complete knob.
so report me because not only do i not know but i now don't care.
2007-01-12 18:42:41 · answer #8 · answered by Max 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
why not? newspaper people do, and they store it and print it..
taking military photos is alot different..punishable if found containing training, arms practise, etc..
ps - your a rude ****..
2007-01-12 18:35:08 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋