U.K. Cops Seize Photographer's Film

...for the crime of street photography (hat tip: BoingBoing). The man, Stephen Carroll, wasn't even taking pictures of them, as has been the case with other people who had the audacity to, from a respectful distance and in public, photograph police officers, and got in trouble for it.

Increasingly, it seems, just showing up with a camera anywhere but at a wedding or a zoo now is grounds for unpleasant questions from uniformed busybodies, and possibly confiscations and arrests.

And of course, the general public is expected — no, encouraged — to get in on the act. The first time someone showed me the poster at right, with its moronically vague incantations about the dangers of cell phones and point-and-shoot cameras and rental vans, I thought it was a hoax — a piece of agitprop designed to satirize government fear-mongering. (Click on the image to enlarge it and be sure to read the text.)

Then I discovered it's real. The billboard was commissioned and paid for by London's Metropolitan Police.

Fear itself is, per FDR, truly the main thing to fear.

Comments

[John]

Why!?!?!?!

Yes! If you use a camera, or a mobile phone, or a computer, or drive, or have a suitcase, you are probably a terrorist!

It's obvious!!!

A big thanks and a hug to the police for taking care of us!

[delurking]

Terrorists need food. Have you seen anyone eating? Has it made you suspicious?

[Token]

Terrorists use computers. If you are reading this on a computer, please wait where you are, and the Government will arrive shortly to detain you. You know, for the public good...

[Gabriel McGovern]

Man - those terrorists are needy!

Also, I love the "Has it made you suspicious?". Well no, but now that you mention it...

[Witch of November]

What will be done to you if they catch you with a suitcase AND a camera?

[Joe]

The USA & UK are becoming police states.

http://home.comcast.net/~plutarch/PoliceState.html

[Sue W]

Most people travelling, taking photos, fiming, looking suspicious (i.e. foreign), or renting vehicles are tourists, not terrorists. Sad day.

[Tikabelle]

Clearly no one has a right to privacy because only terrorists won't tell anyone and everyone they meet where they're going with a suitcase and a cellphone.

[Inti]

i saw this whole bunch of terrorists taking pictures of Brussels' city center the other day. a whole terrorist family, kids and all, from Saudi Arabia.
not to mention the regular swarms of japanese terrorists led by a terrorist leader with a little flag.

[Jozef]

I'm currently in Eindhoven, Netherlands, and will visit three more European countries on this business trip. Even though traveling through London was the most convenient option, I opted not to touch UK soil; instead flying across the ocean with landing in Dublin, and using cheap airlines that fly direct between places I'd visit. I'm not the only one who thinks that the UK has long ago crossed the gray area between democracy and fascism, and if possible I'd avoid it until it's liberated.

[EvilEuropean]

What is the legal groudns for these actions? I am sure that the police are either abusing the law or are totally ignorant with such issues.
As far as I am aware, there are few restriction on taking photos in public places and none for taking pictures of the police (which is illegal in Germany as far as i am aware).