KINGSNORTH, KENT, UNITED KINGDOM – 05.8.08. Police stop and search working UK Press Card carrying photographers and journalistsa outside the main gates of the Camp for Climate Action Kingsnorth Kent, England on Tuesday 5th August 2008. 2,000 (Photo Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2008.
“What rights now for photographers under the Terrorism Act 2000?” – journalism.co.uk
“The draft Terrorism Act 2000 guidance: what’s happening?” – blogs.journalism.co.uk
As reported here a few weeks ago today was the day that the Home Office was going to publish new operational guidance to the police on the use of stop and search powers under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 of those taking photographs in public places.
I emailed the press office at the National Policing Improvement Agency today to get a copy of the revised advice and this is what I got back:
“The revised Practice Advice for police officers in the use of stop and search to combat terrorism is nearing completion. However, it will not be published today as anticipated. A date for publication will be set in the near future.”
Why the delay?
“Revised guidance for police officers in the use of stop and search to combat terrorism is nearing completion. However, we were not able to publish on 20 Nov as anticipated. A date for publication will be set in the near future.
“I want to reassure your readers that the Terrorism Act 2000 does allow people to take photographs or digital images in public places, and the Practice Advice will re-iterate this.”
So the next time you are stopped by the police or stopped and searched under the Terrorism Act 2000 when taking a photograph just remember the National Policing Improvement Agency has said the Act “does allow people to take photographs or digital images in public places, and the Practice Advice will re-iterate this”.
Interesting wording “does allow” more on this next week in a comment piece I’m writing for an online journalism magazine.
Tags: Counter-Terrorism FIT Forward Intelligence Team Free Press Home Office Media Freedom Media Restriction Media Workers National Policing Improvement Agency National Union of Journalists Police Surveillance Press Freedom Press Freedom Collateral Damage Surveillance Terrorism Terrorism Act War on Terror
Filed under: Journalism/Press Freedom, National Union of Journalists. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.
“does allow”… how kind! actually common law means that you can do anything you want, unless it’s specifically prohibited by statute. Jaqui smith seems still not to get this.
I very much agree with you on this one Chris. When are you going to make Taking Liberties -The Return?
Don’t tell him that, you’ll give him ideas and then we’ll be in competition. Well, almost, he got money, I’m funding my film on flour and water seasoned with old garlic!
[...] Marc Vallee, [...]