Photographers to make their voices heard against Terrorism Act abuses
Tomorrow, Monday 16 February 2009, the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 will come into force, potentially making it a crime to take a picture of members of Her Majesty's armed forces, including constables.
The Act amends the Terrorism Act 2000 regarding offences relating to information about members of armed forces, a member of the intelligence services, or a police officer. The new set of rules, under section 76 of the 2008 Act and section 58A of the 2000 Act, will target anyone who 'elicits or attempts to elicit information about (members of armed forces) ... which is of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism'.
The penalty could be of up to 10 years in prison. While BJP does not believe the Act will result in the imprisonment of photographers and photojournalists, we believe the Act could be abused by some police officers who are already loosely using Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 to prevent photographers from taking pictures in public places.
So, we have joined the National Union of Journalists' call for photographers to make their voices heard at a media event on 16 February in front of New Scotland Yard. The plan is simple, turn up with your camera and exercise your democratic right to take a photograph in a public place.
The event starts at 11am. For more details, visit www.nuj.org.uk and the Facebook event page.
If you are not in London, we invite you to check our Twitter feed from 10.30am (London Time) on 16 February. We will be reporting live about the event with pictures and up-to-the-minute updates. Find it here.
Recent posts
Visa Pour l'Image: Switzerland vs. The World
Ask an Agent: Going professional?
Psuedes corner
Rail staffers continue to use "anti-terrorism" powers they don't have
BJP in Colorado Springs
Panasonic uses Canon to shoot its ad
Ask an Agent: The benefits of a printed portfolio
Self Publish, Be Smart
The kids are alright no.2
The kids are alright
Here and there
Your street photography rights on a lens cloth
Recent comments
Blog roll
5b4
1000 Words Photography
A Photo Editor
APhotoADay
A Visual Society
BagNews
Boston Globe's The Big Picture
Conscientious
Foto8
Food For Your Eyes
Gawker
Getty Images' Blog
Hotshoe
Institute for Artist Management
Journalism.co.uk
Lens at The New York Times
Lens Culture
Lightstalkers
Los Angeles Times Photography
Magnum Photos the blog
Mastering Multimedia
Mostly True
No Caption Needed
PDN Pulse
Photo Magazine (France)
Photojournalismlinks
Resolve - The liveBooks Photo Blog
Romenesko
Rob Galbraith DPI
Saatchi Online
StockPhotoTalk
Telephoto
The 37th Frame
The Big Picture
The Daily Nice
The Click
The Online Photographer
The Russian Photos Blog
The Travel Photographer
Vice Magazine
Wall Street Journal's Photo Blog
WarShooter
What's the jackanory?
BJP on Twitter
Noor photographer Alixandra Fazzina tells BJP of the difficulties covering floods in Pakistan. Fascinating read: http://bit.ly/9r2ZUC
Visa Pour l'Image: Antonio Bolfo is an ex-cop and a photographer. He tells BJP about documenting his former colleagues: http://bit.ly/9hzKlH
@pjmeade Not that we know off. The curators and director are staying on during the renovation. But maybe programming will change...
Comments
Fantastic that we are making a stand against this utterly ridiculous legislation.
Please let me know of future "shoot-out" and I will fly over to join in...!!!
Currently based in my photo studio here in Barcelona.
But I´m with you guys in a heartbeat - good luck to you all.
--
James
JAMES WARDELL PHOTOGRAPHY - ESPAÑA
M: (+34) 686 078 229
T: (+34) 934 428 733
www.jameswardell.com
Posted by: James Wardell on 15 Feb 2009 at 21:09
Hope it goes well for you thanks for making a stand.
I am sick and tired of being labeled a terrorist or a pedophile for carrying out my work in public.
Many many photographers here in Australia also support you.
Cannot be there but good luck and well done !
doug
Posted by: doug Steley on 16 Feb 2009 at 06:04
Olivier,
Thank you for your efforts on behalf of those of us who are unable to attend. However, I have been supporting most of the on-line protests by writing to my local MP etc and quoting Austin Mitchell and asking my MP to support his bill etc.etc.
If you need support of the Camera Clubs in Wales let me know, I feel sure it wouldn't take much to form a Welsh team, a good deal of the members are pro's or at least semi-pro's.
Good luck
Thanks
Mark
Posted by: Mark Goodwin on 16 Feb 2009 at 16:00
Well done to all those who protested. Thanks.
Why do people think the law is always correct, or God giiven?
The terror laws appear more and more not to protect us from the terrorists but protect the terrorists from us!
There is a War on Freedom, not a was on terror.
Dave
Posted by: David Slater on 17 Feb 2009 at 10:20
Why is it legitimate for the Government and police to be videotaping anyone and everyone on the street or anywhere and call it caution-when Big Brother is watching, he doesn't bear scrutiny
Posted by: cityprole on 20 Feb 2009 at 15:58