The only time they can do a stop and search is under the Terrorism act, so unless they clearly state that you’re suspected of being a terrorist, they cannot perform the stop and search.

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/photographylaw/

and digitally sign the petition to number 10.

If I am in a polite mood my response is usually, “Look I’ve been doing this for over thiryt years now, so I think I would know if it was illegal or not.” If I am in a less charitable mood, I scornful look, and a “Piss off, can’t you see I’m working.” is always good for a laugh. Not that I try that with a police officer though.

With a police officer, or PCSO I will politiely point out that as I have been semi-pro for thirty years on and off, I have taken great care to make sure I understand the laws which might affect my right to take photographs in a public (or private) place, and try to avoid any situation which might be interprested as an infringement of the law, and that in this paricular instance I am not aware that I am doing anything wrong, and could they please explain exactly what their supicions are. Of course I will explain that I understand that while not actually illegal to do so I do understand that some individuals simply do not like their picure being taken, and should a person indicate this to me, or I even supect they may object, I do not photograph them, as I have no wish to offend. After all if I want to sell the image for profit, I would have to obtain a release from them anyway either befre or after the picure was taken, so there would be little point in continuing.

This usually disarms the situation. If however they wish to part me from any of my kit, or confiscate any materials, I will inform them that they may do so only if they place me under arrest and formally charge me with an offence at the station. (This will of course give me immediate access to a lawyer, and I would press for wrongfull arrest.)

I would though recommend that everyone excercise a degree of sensible caution, as there are a number of stupid dicks out there who seem to be convinced that anything they do in public, is somehow private, and get very ansty about it. All I can say is that they should try having sex in public and see how long they remain at liberty!

The amount of times I have been in similar situations is not nearly funny. Every time I have a huge urge to stick to my rights and attempt to carry on but as of yet I haven’t decided it worth the possible hassle. I remember one day in Wakefield I (and a few others) got our details checked 3 times, and our bags searched also later in the day but there was a break in nearby so I guess that is excusable. Each time we give our details it takes almost 5 minutes each, and so on this particular day we spent over an hour dealing with police. Fun times.

I find PCSOs treat us differently to the actual police but both can be just as bad. Police seem to have to assert their power if we don’t take their presence like we are actually offenders, usually with threats of arrest. Then PCSOs are like many have said, clueless, power hungry silly billies that lack power.

Seriously man if you think you photographers have problems, you should try doing something out of the ordinary, people just freak! I have been questioned/harassed by the police about having no top on, no shoes on, not crossing at the lights, vaulting a rail, doing pressups, doing handstands, walking along walls when there’s a “perfectly good path” next to them, standing on walls, stretching in a “public” place, climbing on trees, etc. The list is starting to become endless.

Peace