The current illegal bureaucratic "War on Photographers" is being debated tomorrow by the London Calling Photographers group:
See their wiki page for this meeting tomorrow Wednesday 4th February 2009:
London Calling Photographers' Meeting 4th february 2009
Know your rights: Facing the police crackdown on public photographyLondon Calling Photographers are proud to announce the first debate.
We are proud to announce the presence of Olivier Laurent, News Editor of the British Journal of Photography, Superintendent David Hartshorn, of Metropolitan Police Public Order Branch and Jeff Moore, Chairman of the British Press Photographers' Association.
Digital Photography School will also be giving away a "Press Photography Lowepro camera bag" on the night.
Agenda
Please note that this agenda is provisional and subject to the presence of all our guests.
7:35 - Welcome speech from the London Calling Photographers
7:45 - "Know your rights: Facing the police crackdown on public photography" - Speech by Olivier Laurent, News Editor of the BJP
8:15 - "Title to be confirmed" - Speech by the Superintendent David Hartshorn of the London Metropolitan Police
8:45 - Open debate and QA Session - Moderated by Jeff Moore, Chairman of the BPPA
9:15 - Open discussion and free session
Please keep in mind that not all the guests have confirmed their availability for the evening and the agenda is subject to modifications. If you feel that the agenda need something more, please feel free to propose any modification to carlo[at]londoncallingphotographers.org.
Contact
For any information please contact:
* Carlo Nicora (carlo[at]londoncallingphotographers.org - [...])
* Simon Pollock (simon[at]londoncallingphotographers.org - [...])When
Wednesday 4th February 2009 @ 19:00
Audio/Video/Blogging
Simon Pollock will blog the event for Digital Photography School and the event will be taped for a Podcast/Videocast.
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Location
The Distillers - Smithfield - In our own upstairs room
66 West Smithfields
London
EC1A 9DY
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See also the recent Spy Blog articles:
- NPIA Practice Advice on Stop and Search in relation to Terrorism and on the War on Photographers
- Counter Terrorism Act 2008 - "attempting to elicit information" and secret DNA sampling and data sharing etc. come into force on February 16th 2009
Participants in this debate may also be interested in our relevant Freedom of Information Act requests:
- MoJ - Prohibited Place - Official Secrets Act 1911
Many of the Private Finance Initiative lease back / tax dodge Government Buildings, in and around Whitehall are no longer "Prohibited Places" including HM Treasury, the Home Office , the Ministry of Defence etc.
The relevant power of arrest under this Act was one of the few that were repealed by the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.
- HO Terrorism Act 2000 s44 Authorisations
The Home Office is attempting to keep secret from the public, the approximate actual geographical extentt and validity time period of the supposedly extraordinary , temporary, strictly limited Terrorism Act section 44 stop and search without reasonable cause powers.
This secrecy is counterproductive to these powers being as a deterrent to real terrorists.
This secrecy also unnecessarily wastes lots Police and public time and resources, by stopping and searching innocent people, who would otherwise have been informed not to be carrying or transporting potentially "suspicious" dual use items (e.g. ammonium nitrate fertiliser) in temporary Section 44 powers areas.
[hat tip to Rob in the Spy Blog comments ]
UPDATE:
David Mery has reported some of the remarks by Superintendent David Hartshorn, of the Metropolitan Police Public Order Branch, made during this debate, regarding hostile reconnaissance, the scale of the Metropolitan Police's public order events operations, and some tips on how to complain: Hostile reconnaissance - no conviction yet but trials coming
A brilliant evening! Thanks for your post.
Sime