On 9 Mar 2007 10:50:37 -0800, "alex_t"
wrote:

Are there any specific instructions for photographers on the
Underground? I was standing at the Baker Street station (Metropolitan
line platform) and tried to make photo of the local junction (at the
moment when train was passing it) - I was approached by two policemen
and told to stop photography and delete existing photos (they even
checked that the photos were deleted) as no photography allowed on the
Underground anymore due to the threat of the terrorism.

Is it true?

No it is not true. There would be posters and announcements to advise
people if it was. The only posters and announcements relate to not using
flash photography due to the blinding effect it can have on drivers.

I sometimes cover for my boss at security meetings and a ban on
photography has never been mentioned at all.

The police also have no right whatsoever to demand that you delete
photographs from your camera. I despair of this sort of thing. Were they
"real" police or "plastic" community support officers? I've had a run
in with the latter at Victoria Bus Station and ended up advising them
that they call Tim O'Toole to verify that I was a senior manager at LU.
At that point they gave up hassling me.

The main issue is to check with the station supervisor so they know you
are there and can provide any requisite local knowledge.

I recently took some photos on the Tyne and Wear Metro and I had to sign
an indemnity waiver and advise where I would be on the system. Now I
personally think that is completely over the top but nonetheless I
complied with the "rules" even though they were NOT on the Nexus
website. It took about three e-mails in the space of a few hours and
everything was sorted. I had no problems on the day and no one batted an
eyelid or said anything.

Here is the official legal position

Click on the like to the pdf file via UK Photographers Rights.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Categor... ited_Kingdom

P.S. I was standing in the location permitted for the passengers and
photos without flash. Even more, I shot more then 10 stations during
the week, and this is the first incident of the kind (even though in
many locations I stood right next to station staff).

Baker St is a HQ building so I can perhaps understand a slightly more
"intense" view as to photography but even so. Security is important but
it is not there to create needless restrictions or paranoia or else the
terrorists have won IMO.

--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!