Architectural photographer harassed for second time in six months in UK

Photo by Grant Smith


Despite assurances from British police that they are not out to harass photographers, they continue to do so.

The latest incident occurred Monday morning when an architectural photographer named Grant Smith was physically restrained while photographing a building in London.

It was the second time he was harassed since December.

In Monday’s incident, the officers confiscated his camera and cell phone, then searched his pockets while restraining his arms.

This is how he explains it on his blog:

A police van with flashing lights sped out of Wood Street and eyeballed me, fixing my position. Uniformed police approached me from both directions.

I continued walking and photographing. PC 374 walked towards me and greeted me with a cheery ‘Hello’.

I responded in like fashion and continued to walk on as he spoke into his radio.

He stopped me with his hand firmly on my chest. I asked if I was being detained.

‘I’d just like a word with you.’

Am I being detained?

‘Yes you are.’

Under what grounds? ‘Section 44(2) of the Terrorism Act.

They released Smith after reviewing his drivers license. And eventually returned his camera and cell phone.

Now Smith is threatening to sue.

Comments

Anonymous
Anonymous

Threaten? His barrister should have already filed the paperwork.

And I just love the liberal party’s statement that police aren’t really harassing photographers under Section 44, that it’s all their imagination.

Anonymous
Anonymous

What’s his blog? The link doesn’t work.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Yeah, definitely sue. Maybe if they pay enough they will eventually come to their senses…..ha. Nice dream though.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Link is fixed now. Sorry about that.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Far more toxic and abuse-prone laws are being seriously proposed in the US, using the usual excuse that ¨you have nothing to worry about if you´re not a terrorist.¨ The Obama administration´s proposed rollback of 5th Amendment rights for ¨terrorism suspects¨, and Senator Lieberman´s proposal to strip ¨terrorists¨ of their citizenship are the most recent instances.

The UK´s experience with the infamous ¨Section 44(2) of the Terrorism Act¨ is just one example of how laws that were sold as strictly applying only to terrorists end up as tools to routinely repress ordinary innocent citizens.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Check out what Pat Condell has to say about the liberal government in England.

http://www.patcondell.net/

Anonymous
Anonymous

Every time any kind of a crisis comes along people start an attack on the Bill of Rights. THAT, of course, is the tactic of a tyrant and it seems to be working in Britian and the U.S.

Anonymous
Anonymous

This photographer is fighting the noble fight just in the most tedious albeit press friendly way . I used to enjoy “shoplifting” the picture. You go to the location with just chalk and a view card (mattboard cut to your aspect ratio) and note your positions and the angle. Set up your exposure off site and wait for the light. Even with a view camera, setting it down and pushing the button is fast enough. The closest they could get to me was yelling as I turned the corner demanding I return back their self-esteem. They lose alot of time tearing themselves away from their doughnuts or in this case biscuits maybe? Repeat as necessary.

Anonymous
Anonymous

I like this guy.

Anonymous
Anonymous

To the offices bastards, I do not have as much to worry about as you do. I bite, I will do what ever I can to make your life a living hell. And your boss and your bosses boss. Win, loose, or draw you will know that you have been in a fight.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Pat Condell kicks ass!

Anonymous
Anonymous

yea, like telling people they are “illegal.”
Jody´s last blog ..20 Signs That The US is a Police State

Anonymous
Anonymous

Well Jody, I’m sorry for you that the concept of “illegal alien” some gets turned into “illegal human being” in your head. Given enough time this problem will probably subside.

Anonymous
Anonymous

I’ve always wondered if the filth would do this if they saw people legally open carrying. He should have asked these pricks about the CIU. Even when the IRA were bombing the shit out of everything this kind of crap wasn’t going on.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Public_Order_Intelligence_Unit

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1138755/Secret-police-unit-set-s...

http://p10.hostingprod.com/@spyblog.org.uk/blog/2010/04/30/domestic-extr...
Jody´s last blog ..20 Signs That The US is a Police State

Anonymous
Anonymous

Goobacks

http://www.xepisodes.com/southpark/episodes/806/Goobacks.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_5BbB7gLCg
Jody´s last blog ..20 Signs That The US is a Police State

Anonymous
Anonymous

coolbeans

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