I’m a photographer not a terrorist
New Scotland Yard – Flash!
Victory! Flash Mob
Last week the European Court of Human Rights rejected the governments appeal to its decision in January that ruled Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in breach of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Although the Home Office has said it is still considering how the ruling affects the law and the police will continue to use it. It’s possible that any Stop & Search under s44 since 12th January 2010 will be open to legal challenge, so hang on to any receipts.
Unfortunately there are still a swathe of laws that police use to harass photographers, most notably s43, which is similar to s44 but requires an officer to suspect that you are a terrorist and s76 which makes it illegal to ‘elicit information about a police officer’ which includes photographing them.
In the meantime we’re going back to the place where our campaign started, outside New Scotland Yard. We’ll be gathering at 12 noon, tomorrow Sunday 4th July (Independence Day!) Come along and lets celebrate a little more freedom for photographers.
Press
MP’s – Smile for the Camera!
Hundreds of letters encouraging MP’s to support the “I’m a Photographer Not a Terrorist!” campaign by photographing themselves with a mini placard are delivered to Portcullis House. Westminster Parliament. London.
© Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk
More pics here
Photographers take Trafalgar Square
Up to 3000 people join the I’m a Photographer Not a Terrorist Mass Gathering in Trafalgar Square in defence of street photography and against the arbitary use of the terrorism laws to stop and search photographers.
See web gallery here
See press clippings collated by photographer Marc Vallee here
© Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk
Mass Photo Gathering
Mass Gathering in defence of street photography
I’m a Photographer, Not a Terrorist! invite all Photographers to a mass photo gathering in defence of street photography.
Following a series of high profile detentions under s44 of the terrorism act including 7 armed police detaining an award winning architectural photographer in the City of London, the arrest of a press photographer covering campaigning santas at City Airport and the stop and search of a BBC photographer at St Pauls Cathedral and many others. PHNAT feels now is the time for a mass turnout of Photographers, professional and amateur to defend our rights and stop the abuse of the terror laws.
Join the Facebook Group here
Follow PHNAT on twitter
FLASHMOB – Rogues Gallery
Photographers Flashmob Canary Wharf to highlight restrictions on photography in pseudo public spaces. Organised by the campaign I’m a Photographer Not a Terrorist. Docklands, East London.
Canary Wharf “FLASH-MOB”
I’m a Photographer Not a Terrorist – launch party
Photo-Forum Films – Know Your Rights
‘I’m a photographer, not a terrorist – Know Your Rights’
Following the successful NUJ media event outside New Scotland Yard to highlight the issues photographers have with S76 of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008, NUJ members organised an ‘I’m a photographer, not a terrorist – Know Your Rights’ meeting.’
The meeting was hosted by Photo-Forum in February and was introduced by photographer Peter Macdiarmid with solicitor Anna Mazzola (Hickman and Rose) and photographer Andrew Wiard.
Jason Parkinson was commissioned to shoot and edit two short films for the evening.The film is funded by the NUJ.
Click here for Know Your Rights film
The first film on terrorism legislation features Anna Mazzola and Peter Macdiarmid.
The second film features Andrew Wiard, freelance photographer, who speaks about the history and the future of the press card.
We also compiled a slideshow featuring good and bad policing which is part of an on-going Photo-Forum project. If you have images to contribute to this project please send jpeg files in sRGB colour space, maximum size 1024 pixels on the long side to: photoforumuk@gmail.com
Photo-Forum is organized by photographers as a place for working photographers across the spectrum to bring images, ideas, photo stories, approaches and work in progress for supportive debate and criticism. It runs monthly on the second Thursday of the month in Central London.