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#11
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Photography on LU
I'm always a bit suspicious of forwarded mails like this. Have you seen the full original mail? On what date was it sent? The photography was for personal, enthusiast use. The orginal letter was sent to the editor of Underground News in the last week or so and forwarded to me, I omitted personal names for obvious reasons. |
#12
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Photography on LU
I know someone who had a similar experience post-7/7 on Westminster Bridge when covering the end of RMs on the 12 and 159 routes and was stopped under some Terrorism Act proviso or other. Other bus enthusiasts were told to stop taking photos in Parliament Square as it was allegedly unnerving employees in adjacent government offices (too bad they took a job in a UNESCO World Heritage Site which just might attract a few camera-wielding tourists). There are often unusual police vehicles parked around 55 Bdy and NSY and I've taken the odd photo if I'd had a camera on me. On two occasions I've been questioned, one time post-7/7 quite nastily by a Met PC who asked if I "made a habit of photographing police vehicles?" and "have you ever been stopped by the police" etc. I answered quite truthfully that I didn't regularly take such photos, only if it was unusual (I think it was a Control Unit or Marine Support Unit, forget which). In the end the production of my staff pass plus inserting the phrase "work next to the MICC" (the BTP control room in 55 Broadway) into the conversation seemed to convince him and I was grudgingly allowed to go - presumably identified as a nutcase rather than a terrorist... Incidentally the all-knowing BTP were caught unawares when North Woolwich closed and demanded to know why so many people were milling around Stratford station taking pictures. They also told one person to remove a hi-vi vest, which I sort of agree with because you're either working at that location and maybe qualified to go trackside or you're not, and the wearing of such items implies an attempt to get away things you wouldn't otherwise be able to do. I guess the trick is to stay calm if stopped and complain later to MP, BTP, PCA etc if need be (enthusiasts are presumably just another minority now targeted for "Stop & Search" I suppose though doubt fit the Islamic radical demographic?). At least if using digital photography you can show them all the pix taken, which would presumably be of suitably 'anorak' subjects - and never agree to delete the card's contents on police advice, thus destroying the evidence of what you were up to. Too bad if you were making a study of just, say, substations and bridges which would certainly look suspect, but maybe these aren't the times for that sort of activity. We all know real terrorists would probably use unobtrusive camera phones, or mix numerous 'touristy' shots with the odd malicious one for surveillance purposes, should they so wish; but I don't think we can expect the average plod on the beat, let alone the usual calibre of LU staff nowadays, to be able to deduce this. |
#13
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Photography on LU
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