Amateur Photographer Magazine

 Stop and search and photographers: Anti terrorism minister issues statement - Page Two: 'I have committed to follow-up on the representations made to me'

Wednesday 10th March 2010

Chris Cheesman

Hanson added: 'These powers and offences are intended to help protect the public and those on the front line of our counter terrorism operations from terrorist attack. For the 58A offence to be committed, the information is of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

'I have committed to writing to Austin Mitchell MP to reinforce this message and to follow-up on the representations made to me at today's meeting.'

During the meeting Austin Mitchell called for a 'strengthening' of the ACPO and Home Office guidelines on photography that were issued last year.

He told the minister: 'We think it's appropriate to strengthen these circulars [to police officers] to assert the fact that photography is a right. Photographers need to feel confident and not inhibited. The circular could emphasise that.'

Amateur Photographer staff relayed photographers' ongoing concerns that their right to take photographs in public has yet to be sufficiently communicated to police officers on the ground, despite ACPO, Home Office and Met Police guidelines.

Mitchell urged the Home Office to improve the training of Police Community Support Officers who many photographers have reported as the predominant abusers of anti-terror laws.

Before the meeting Hanson had written to the Great Grimsby MP, telling him that he takes the matter 'seriously'.

'Counter terrorism powers should only be used for terrorism purposes. These laws are not, and never have been, designed to stop people taking photographs. People have the right to take photographs in public for legitimate reasons.'

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