Home Office hands victory to photographers, restricts use of Section 44

About time

This is hopefully the first step in a post-labour government revolt, returning us from the police state we've become.
A police state created post 7/7 as labour decided that it could pass any law under the guise of protecting us from terrorism (regardless of how incredulous the risk of terrorism), striping away basic rights through a deluge of new laws and legislation.

We now have a country with the private security guards of the government (The police); the nosy neighbour gone wild on a power trip (PCSO) and then last but not least the Street Wardens / Highway Patrol / Traffic Wardens (with even more powers) (we can group these into the Wombles Patrol).
Then the technology fest of thousands of security cameras; entire police teams using CCTV, DSLR's photographing protests so they can add photos to databases, a DNA database where suspects/un-convicted individuals and victims are treated alike and stored. A labour government legacy of vast databases costing billions storing every detail of your live, including the child register, and the employee register (aka the quit & fired list).

Half a century ago people fought for their freedoms; in 13 years Labour have caused irreparable damage... lets hope the Freedom Act (http://yourfreedom.hmg.gov.uk/) wont disappoint.

Common sense prevails

That the police have continually abused this particular piece of legislation cannot be doubted.

It was ill-thought out in the first place, another piece of knee jerk reaction from the last Government.

What has worried me all the way through, ever since the terrorism act can into place, was that time and time again we (the public and specifically photographers) were told that these powers would not be used to stop us taking photographs in public places, nor to stop photojournalists doing their job, and yet weekly, sometimes daily we heard of yet another case where the police used section 44 for just that.

It is great news that this piece of legislation can no longer be used as an excuse to harass photographers. But surely that is but the first step.

When are this country's police personnel going to be properly trained on how to deal with photographers?

When will Police officers who abuse photographers and members of the general public going to be held to rights.

Until Policemen and women are punished openly and properly for abusing their powers regrettably I see that the cases of obstructing photographers will continue. That cannot be right.

Partial win

It's a good start, especially seen from the angle of the photographer's viewfinder.

Note that she did not say S.44 had gone altogether, just that it doesn't apply to individuals. From the wider perspective, the bit about "vehicles" is still open for scrutiny in the light of civil liberties.

And I'm seriously unimpressed with Labour: they could have done the right thing at the time and not invented these stupid laws, and now they've been found out (FINALLY!) they're in opposition, forced to whine immaturely about "police power"... Just another example of our politicians not having a clue.

Labour doesn't get it

Noting Alan Johnson's comment, I am dismayed that Labour still don;t undestand where they were taking us with their legislation and the disproportionate and illiberal powers given to the police.

Sense from a Politician?

For once, common sense and good coming from a politician? Looks like we are on the road for the better!

Property Assault Rights

Before we all start dancing in the streets and defacing the statues of Brown The Terrible, remember that you can still get duffed up by security guards 'protecting' the image of their employer's property. As I was on the public pavement outside the Elephant & Castle shopping centre.
This political manoevre does nothing to address the civil suppression of photography, or the private assaults of photographers.
And not in the cause, however bogus, of national security, but simply because some squalid property profiteer doesn't want his ramshackle development shown warts and all.

Over £1m spent on me, section 44 Terrorism Act

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I hope this never happens to you