public use of cameras in the UK [Archive]

SteveG

6th January 2009, 04:40 AM

And in that thread Gary was the statement I recieved from the Police station that deals with most of the Anti Terrorist work in London. It was no problem as long as you were not endangering or restricting public movement ie a major film shoot, remember as stated in that article you've posted:

"the law is straightforward. "Police officers may not prevent someone from taking a photograph in public unless they suspect criminal or terrorist intent. Their powers are strictly regulated by law and once an image has been recorded, the police have no power to delete or confiscate it without a court order. This applies equally to members of the media seeking to record images, who do not need a permit to photograph or film in public places,"

I've been filming twice recently in London's West End and had no problems with the Police and they were passing me all day....I wasn't acting suspiciously though;)

Remember if you are harrassed, remind them politely of the Law, ask for their Name, Number, the Station they are attached to and their Chief Super's name. Apart from this issue in earlier life I found it beneficial to allways have a Solicitors number in my wallet.....lol

john01

6th January 2009, 08:48 AM

I think you'll find that using a camera in a recognised tourist spot isn't going to raise eyebrows, but who wants to film well known landmarks ?

deepvisual

16th February 2009, 10:57 AM

Starting today, it is now illegal to photograph the British Police (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/feb/16/protest-police-liberty-central).

If you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a small chance of survival. There may even be a worse case: you may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves. ... Winston Churchill

sleepytom

16th February 2009, 11:20 AM

Remember if you are harrassed, remind them politely of the Law, ask for their Name, Number, the Station they are attached to and their Chief Super's name. Apart from this issue in earlier life I found it beneficial to allways have a Solicitors number in my wallet.....lol
hahaha i love the idea that they would respond to this type of approach - such a quaint idea about the boys in blue and how they behave.

The police simply see themselves as above the law. Asking for their name / number is amusing but don't expect them to give it to you in any kind of situation of unrest. I've been punched by a cop for pointing out that it is illegal for the police to remove the numbered epilete from their uniform ("yeah mate, so what? this is probably illegal too" <punch>) What are you ment to do in such a situation? note down the officers name and number so you can report him?

I will bet anyone anything they like that the only people who will be nicked under the new laws banning photographing the police will be political activists and jornalists, not terrorists.

deepvisual

16th February 2009, 11:26 AM

I will bet anyone anything they like that the only people who will be nicked under the new laws banning photographing the police will be political activists and jornalists, not terrorists.

I guess that means no more of these videos

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

mowgli

16th February 2009, 11:59 AM

You're mistaken Gary, the law is not about what you can't do, it's about what you shouldn't get caught doing.

An artist friend of mine recently made a video which included the police questioning him in his own house about an incident that happened outside his window. He hid a camera inside a broken toaster in the kitchen and it worked a treat. Investing in camera disguises might be a good idea to avoid police, muggers etc...

deepvisual

16th February 2009, 12:05 PM

and in case you missed it....

YouTube - 'Authority' paranoia over photography in London

YouTube - Police harrass man filming on his own door step and get intellectually obliterated

evomedia

16th February 2009, 12:54 PM

Deep...

You seem endlessly lost in negative news to do with authority, I think you need to step away from the internet sometimes, get outside and realise real life ain't like these stories and the whole world isn't some corrupt conspiracy lol

Take a week and look at fun stuff rather than these rather depressing versions of the world.

mowgli

16th February 2009, 01:09 PM

This stuff is not just on the internet, i've suffered it first hand in plenty of occasions with the police and other times with security from different venues including last Saturday.

deepvisual

16th February 2009, 01:29 PM

Deep...You seem endlessly lost in negative news to do with authority,

I used to work for the police.
...3 years of having to deal with their brutal stupidity on a daily basis.
and that was back when they were relatively powerless.

I know whose side they are on.
it isn't ours.

john01

17th February 2009, 03:29 AM

Take a week and look at fun stuff rather than these rather depressing versions of the world.

Forget about it, everything will be fine

From the Torygraph

Spy chief: We risk a police state (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/4643415/Spy-chief-We-risk-a-police-state.html)
Dame Stella Rimington, the former head of MI5, has warned that the fear of terrorism is being exploited by the Government to erode civil liberties and risks creating a police state

Worrying about this used to be the job of people like

Billy Bragg

Not the Torygraph and retired spies

automaton

18th February 2009, 12:36 AM

I specialize in surveillance. its amazing what you can do with it. its also amazing that its such a mutual weapon between law enforcement and the "bad guys". here in detroit, dealers will setup surveillance cameras so they can keep an eye on their stash. What is also ironic is how people dont protect their cameras from internet prowlers. Simply enter the following in the google search bar as follows: inurl:/view/index.shtml BAM! Your a professional surveillance Hacker.

ShaKinDa

18th February 2009, 09:56 AM

i live in belfast, when i grew up here you used to have to get your bag searched going into big shopping centres and could be stopped at road checkpoints and asked who you were where you were going and why, its a pretty shit state of affairs for society to function in.

now the people who were running the terrorist organisations are politicians and have been democratically elected to run the assembly government here. and to be honest they do a good job. at the end of day we're all human, so if someone is being driven to acts violence and terrorism they probably have suffered or are suffering a great injustice.

the solution is not to try and make it harder for them to cause violence but to sit down and talk: acknowledge their grievance and give them a peaceful method of expressing their anger and be prepared to change some things, then suddenly nobody needs to kill each other anymore...

deepvisual

18th February 2009, 10:09 AM

the solution is not to try and make it harder for them to cause violence but to sit down and talk:

exactly, so why is the opposite happening??

I'd say two reasons.
Its lazy and its cheap.( while at the same time being profitable)

if you put police on the beat the policemen make money.
if you put cameras on the streets, the security companies make money

automaton

18th February 2009, 01:28 PM

Your right! Thats where I am making money... ;)

Architects of Tomorrow

22nd February 2009, 02:34 AM

I couldn't find the original thread.
here is some more on the Police attitude to cameras.

Photographers criminalised as police 'abuse' anti-terror laws (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/photographers-criminalised-as-police-abuse-antiterror-laws-1228149.html)

Up until recently I shared DeepVisuals paranoia do to person experience.
Everytime i set up a camera for a timelapse sequence the first thing that comes to mind is police harassment especially in high profile places such as train stops, airports, etc. As mickey rourke once said - I don't hate cops - I just feel better when they are not around. :p.

Recent Incidents

Lets see - I have been called an asshole for shooting people playing basketball on Venice Beach in public - as usual I got into an argument and continued to shoot.

I was approached by security in vegas hotel for shooting timelapse in the lobby. I lied and said camera was not on - Second time I shot for about an hour without any issue.

I was approached by TSA in fort myers airport. I knew my limits here. I was polite and explained I was shooting time lapse for a project. They asked for ID, etc. The TSA agent actually helped me out by asking if I was working - I replied yes - I then gave them a business card for my media company and they seemed satisfied and let me continue to shoot as long as I did not aim the cam by the security area.

So what I have learned - If you do not look like a punk - Dress well and act polite you will most likly be allowed to shoot. Explain to the officer that you are a working professional gathering footage - and a business card helps.

Their is a fine line between telling the officer about your rights to shoot and telling him to fuck off - basically they take it as fuck off.

mowgli

3rd March 2009, 01:14 PM

If you do not look like a punk - Dress well and act polite you will most likly be allowed to shoot.

You're right here, but I do have the right to look like a punk and dress in any way I want and that shouldn't change the treatment I get from the police.

sleepytom

3rd March 2009, 01:28 PM

but it does - so if you want to film stuff in sensitive areas then changing your appearance is a lot easier than changing the attitudes of the police.

i'm not saying the police are right to judge people by appearance but they do (actually we all do) so live with it and go undercover on occasion to take advantage of their prejudices

mowgli

3rd March 2009, 01:32 PM

So at the end of the day it's all about deception, sad but true.

deepvisual

3rd March 2009, 02:52 PM

http://www.galeriebertin.fr/images/exposition/big/148.jpg

camouflage my dear.
Camo rules. (http://stealthmodern.blogspot.com/)
I do a very good impersonation of a slightly mentally retarded tourist whenever the cops get their hands on me - gives them a feeling of superiority for once in their lives..

mowgli

3rd March 2009, 03:21 PM

I wonder what you'd say to the cops if you actually got caught wearing that camouflaged stuff! Comedy moment for sure. It'll definitely be worth having someone else filming you filming.

deepvisual

16th April 2009, 02:17 PM

Police delete tourist's photos of London buses to 'prevent terrorism' (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/apr/16/police-delete-tourist-photos)

Gumby

18th June 2009, 07:54 PM

and in case you missed it....

YouTube - 'Authority' paranoia over photography in London (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKl2sEN4yNM)

The PCSO in that video still makes me laugh every time.

What happened to the link to the instructions on how to make a infrared LED basball cap to dazzle CCTV?

jjbaulikki

18th June 2009, 08:12 PM

Starting today, it is now illegal to photograph the British Police (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/feb/16/protest-police-liberty-central).

Old post, but wow!

deepvisual

21st June 2009, 06:18 PM

activist held in prison for photographing policeman (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jun/21/fit-watch-police-surveillance-val-swain-emily-apple-arrests) who had no numbers on his uniform

Gumby

23rd June 2009, 10:53 AM

PCProject

23rd June 2009, 11:20 AM

activist held in prison for photographing policeman (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jun/21/fit-watch-police-surveillance-val-swain-emily-apple-arrests) who had no numbers on his uniform

"will you stop standing on my foot"
"im not standing on your foot"
*FIT footage cuts to showing OB's foot on complaining protestors foot and then moves the issue out of shot*
"recording recording"
"we are restraining you because you are resisting"
*cut to 3 burly rugby player sized policemen sitting on slightly built female*

She wants to count her lucky stars they hadnt got the killer instinct going on that day :rolleyes:

tdog

23rd June 2009, 06:36 PM

tdog

23rd June 2009, 06:40 PM

I'll take this opportune moment to bring to your attention:

www.reddogonline.eu/Retaking%20our%20liberties%20e-flyer2.png (http://www.reddogonline.eu/retakingourlibertieseflyer.pdf)
time for action.

tdog.

I was trying to attach an image of the flyer for the gig - but i not clever enough. hope the download works.

tdog.

deepvisual

10th July 2009, 05:48 AM

http://current.com/e/89284474 ( video wont embed for some reason) video of many dozens of journalists being harrased by the police for photographing protests.

The NUJ has hit out at new guidance issued by the Metropolitan Police, which includes inaccurate information about photographers and the police. (http://www.nuj.org.uk/innerPagenuj.html?docid=1288)

plod has wrongly advised all london cops that they can now demand to view any digital photos taken by anyone.
in fact they can only do this if they suspect the person of being a terrorist.

john01

10th July 2009, 08:58 AM

Sometimes you wonder who's in bed with who

http://counterrealism.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/g20-protests-g20-protests-0011.jpg

Of course what the cops are really after are all those inconvenient pictures of them beating up people. Though in my more cynical and conspiritheoritical moments I wonder if some of those videos that get onto Youtube are actually put there by the cops in order to frighten and subdue the public. Especially the recent one of the guy getting taser'd, are they sending a message "we've got them and we like using them" ?

Those of you in Norwich North, vote for Craig Murray. (http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/)

john01

18th July 2009, 09:38 AM

More from the dedicated popos

Kent Police clamp down on tall photographers (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07/15/tall_photographers/)

This they did, and a PCSO and WPC quickly joined the fray. Turner took a photo of the pair, and was promptly arrested. It is unclear from his own account precisely what he was being arrested for. However, he does record that the WPC stated she had felt threatened by him when he took her picture, referring to his size - 5' 11" and about 12 stone - and implying that she found it intimidating.

What would Dixon of Dock Green say ?

john01

3rd December 2009, 09:27 AM

The Independent (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/warning-do-not-take-this-picture-1833127.html) wakes up

Police have been accused of misusing powers granted under anti-terror legislation after a series of incidents, ranging from the innocuous to the bizarre, in which photographers were questioned by officers for taking innocent pictures of tourist destinations, landmarks and even a fish and chip shop.

Police are allowed to stop and search anyone in a designated "Section 44 authorisation" zone without having to give a reason. But amateur and professional photographers have complained that they are frequently being stopped and treated as potential terrorists on a reconnaissance mission. Last night the Government's independent reviewer of anti-terrorism laws warned police forces to carefully examine how they use the controversial legislation.

PCProject

3rd December 2009, 05:15 PM

I am going to be taking trips to london from the new year to film bits and pieces that I need for a project

I am planning on contacting the Met to ask for a letter confirming that photography and videography ISNT illegal in public places or of public builings OR of policemen should I decide I want to film them too!

I will of course point out to them in the phone call that if they have a problem doing that then I will make an appointment with my MP to ask why that is and get him to write to them and ask them to explain the problem they have to him and at the same time politely ask if he would kind enough to provide me with a letter confirming my rights and what the law actually is at the same time

"Good Game Good Game" as Brucie might say and I am quite up for a bit of wrongful arrest and false imprisonment should I come up against more stupid than usual plod - the Met have a consistently good track record on payments for such mistakes

mowgli

3rd December 2009, 05:54 PM

Good on you but I have a feeling that going the letter route might take forever as they can take as long as they want to do it probably. Rather than saying no they'll probably just ignore it,

PCProject

3rd December 2009, 07:21 PM

Up to them how they respond but if it gets to ignoring an MPs correspondence that isnt going to be a good idea on their part as MPs generally tend to consider themselves the lawmakers and I doubt if if he will take kindly to the police trying to upsurp his role or trying to ignore him

I think I will more than likely keep this thread updated with the results of what occurs over the next few months

john01

3rd December 2009, 10:27 PM

BIOPTIX

12th December 2009, 09:38 PM

The Independent have been pushing the right buttons:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/police-uturn-on-photographers-and-antiterror-laws-1834626.html

"The strongly worded warning was circulated by the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) last night. In an email sent to the chief constables of England and Wales's 43 police forces, officers were advised that Section 44 powers should not be used unnecessarily against photographers. The message says: "Officers and community support officers are reminded that we should not be stopping and searching people for taking photos. Unnecessarily restricting photography, whether from the casual tourist or professional, is unacceptable."

moonbase

13th December 2009, 09:24 AM

For anyone in or able to visit London.
Mass Gathering in defence of street photography (http://photographernotaterrorist.org/2009/12/mass-photo-gathering/)

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.
trsq-poster
12 Noon
Saturday 23rd January 2010
Trafalgar Square

deepvisual

13th December 2009, 11:11 AM

My personal favourite is the guy who was arrested for taking a photo of a fish and chip (http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/news/fish_and_chip_photographer_arrest_complaint_upheld _news_292896.html?aff=rss) shop in Kent.

I can just imagine the twisted mindset of the deluded cops when they come up with a scenario that involves of the long dead ghost of Osama (http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24157.htm) sat in a cave in Afghanistan, issuing a fatwa against 'cod chips and mushy peas' and sending out hordes of deadly suicide bombers with cameras and instructions to photograph any 'potential' deep fat fryers.

but of course, its much simpler than that. the british police are really just a little bit thick.

moonbase

13th December 2009, 10:42 PM

Thanks Deep, one of the many mad incidents I have surely missed.

See Google map on my blogspot if you haven't already.
http://fascistdemocracy.blogspot.com/

john01

16th December 2009, 02:15 AM

Italian student tells of arrest while filming for fun (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/dec/15/italian-student-police-arrest-filming)

The whole article :

An Italian student has described how she was stopped by police under anti-terrorist legislation while filming buildings, and later arrested, held in a police cell for five hours and given a fixed penalty notice.

Simona Bonomo, 32, an art student at London Metropolitan University at London Metropolitan University, filmed the moment on 19 November when she was approached by two police community support officers (PCSOs) in Paddington, west London.

When Bonomo was challenged by one PCSO, she said she was filming "just for fun". He replied: "You like looking at those buildings do you? You're basically filming for fun? I don't believe you."

Bonomo then declined his request to see what she had filmed. "I can have a look if I want to, if I think it may be linked to terrorism. This is an iconic site," he replied.

Bonomo then said she was an artist. "You're an artist? Have you got any proof or any identification?" he said. After accusing Bonomo of being cocky, the PCSO said she had been cycling the wrong way down a one-way street and threatened to fine her. After she apologised, the PCSOs departed, but returned moments later with about six police officers, she said.

She was searched and, after an altercation with one officer, was accused of being aggressive, bundled to the ground and arrested. The PCSOs were not involved in the arrest. After five hours in a police cell, Bonomo said she was told to sign an £80 fixed penalty fine for a public order offence. She plans to contest the penalty, which stipulated she caused "harassment, alarm and distress" in public.

Bonomo returned the next day to interview builders who had witnessed her arrest. Footage of the interviews appears to corroborate her account. "I was disgusted," one said. "They were terribly out of order. There was one officer who was spiteful to you."

The Met confirmed that a woman was stopped and searched under section 44 of the Terrorism Act. Any complaint made to police would be fully investigated.

There's a video to which to be honest I can't bring myself to watch because I know it is going to annoy me.

The question has to be are the police just totally stupid or totally insane in the UK now ?

PCProject

16th December 2009, 03:51 AM

What do you mean "now"?

There is plenty of recent/not so recent historical evidence that the UK police behave how they want when they want and with little or no restraint IF they think they can get away with it

Battle of the Beanfield anybody?

john01

16th December 2009, 10:29 AM

I take your point, but I did say "totally".

I think the Battle of the Beanfield was temporary insanity, my dear brother, who used to move in such circles (hippy, not piggy) tells me that the cops had been told a hippy bus had run over and killed a copper or two, though whether this is true or not is anyone's guess.

On the other hand in my reckless youth aiding hunt sabs I found PC rural Plod quite reasonable.

On the other other hand I remember hearing stories of Lancashire police being disgusted by the provocative behaviour of Merseyside police during the Toxteth riots.

and on the other hand I hear they are reopening the inquiry into Blair Peach, the SPG, what a great advance in community policing and international relations.

Maybe it is because I left the UK 20 years ago that my impressions have become a bit confused, I left because I thought the country was going down the tubes, and I'm pretty sure I made the right choice. I'd rather be discriminated against here and be able to cry racism, than have it happen in my "own" country.

PCProject

16th December 2009, 10:40 AM

Im not rabidly anti-OB believing without them life would be not much fun at all but I am taking a great interest in the now publically voiced concerns by a few senior officers that they are becoming worried the OB will lose 'the policing by public consent issue' should they continue being heavy handed

deepvisual

16th December 2009, 10:43 AM

I think the Battle of the Beanfield was temporary insanity.

if so, then it was a highly contagious form of temporary insanity that is still going around.
we've had exactly the same behaviour at orgreave, wapping and even, heaven forbid, against the über tories of the countryside alliance just two years ago.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40076000/jpg/_40076076_police_protest_ap203.jpg

john01

16th December 2009, 11:14 AM

ahh the miners, and some of those police were soldiers, I was out of the UK for most of that too, in the more peaceful climes of the Negev desert ....

maybe they are becoming inbred and the contagion is spreading

dubassy

16th December 2009, 01:28 PM

im back to the uk tomorrow for 10 days over xmas... camera and lenses in tow... im sure like usual, i'll be questionned at least once or twice about what i'm doing. especially with this new toy attached between tripod and camera head -

http://www.marc-kairies.de/english/mk-panomachine/index.html

it kind of sounds like a TICKING:eek: !!, as it rotates to help me do panoramic timelapses...

mowgli

16th December 2009, 01:37 PM

Having a tv for head won't help either!

sleepytom

16th December 2009, 02:25 PM

especially with this new toy attached between tripod and camera head -

http://www.marc-kairies.de/english/mk-panomachine/index.html

it kind of sounds like a TICKING:eek: !!, as it rotates to help me do panoramic timelapses...
arrgghhhh <- scream of jealousy

I've wanted one of them for ages!! is it any good? I never quite had the cash to justify it and couldn't make up my mind as to which on of these systems looked like the best deal (i nearly ordered a timemachine and their panning motor but the import charges put me over budget so i never got it.) Really I'd like the http://www.camblock.com system but its even more expensive - maybe when they release the joystick controller module then it will be multipurpose enough to justify the cost.

dubassy

16th December 2009, 02:53 PM

arrgghhhh <- scream of jealousy

I've wanted one of them for ages!! is it any good? I never quite had the cash to justify it and couldn't make up my mind as to which on of these systems looked like the best deal (i nearly ordered a timemachine and their panning motor but the import charges put me over budget so i never got it.) Really I'd like the http://www.camblock.com (http://www.camblock.com/) system but its even more expensive - maybe when they release the joystick controller module then it will be multipurpose enough to justify the cost.

it only arrived a few days ago...so will test it properly in london..

on first impressions its a very solid and well built item, and its not too large, easy to fit inside a rucksack. it can pretty much be programmed to work however you want.. many many options......it can take the photos for you as well via the shutter release cable, or just rotate and you take the pictures with an intervolmeter. spins a whole turn in four seconds, or can take days.

i had a look at some of the other options on the market, the timemachine one just seemed annoying to have the controller as a whole separate item attached on a wire and not built into the actual machine. or there are some big bulky modded, telescope rotating options
the panomachine was fokin expensive, and a bit of a whim purchase, but it seemed the best option, as one compact small unit, i just hope the police don't think its a bomb and confiscate it....:)

will give more feedback, once i've put it through its paces a bit and show some of the results.....

john01

16th December 2009, 03:02 PM

so the next police harassment/arrest video will be a full 360 degree exposure ?

dubassy

16th December 2009, 03:10 PM

so the next police harassment/arrest video will be a full 360 degree exposure ?
:)

do you think they will sign a model release form, so i can sell the clip as stock??

mowgli

16th December 2009, 03:44 PM

make sure you get completely surrounded by cops to exploit the full 360

dubassy

30th December 2009, 01:21 PM

http://www.vimeo.com/8437211

here's a selection of stuff i made with the panomachine. (no police intervention on this occasion!)...

well the panomachine is great.
after experimenting a bit, the smoother timelapses obviously occur with smaller increments between turns. i think the longest one here, was about 15 minutes to turn about 70 degrees.(it was cold to stand around for much longer:))a couple of the much quicker turns are a bit jumpy....
the batteries run down quite quickly.. takes 8 AAs, but stocked with a few rechargeable spares should get you through a days shooting.
well lots more fun to be had with this toy im sure...........

deepvisual

30th December 2009, 04:45 PM

8AAs sounds like 12v to me.
deepcycle or pag batteries might be a good investment

john01

31st December 2009, 12:21 AM

http://www.vimeo.com/8437211

here's a selection of stuff i made with the panomachine.
.

great stuff

mashie niblick

13th January 2010, 03:29 PM

The Good News: European Human Rights court rules UK Stop and search powers illegal.
http://www.paxmundi.info/2010/01/12/european-human-rights-court-rules-uk-stop-and-search-powers-illegal/

The Bad News (less than a day later): It won't make any difference! see http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPage.html?page=872574

Quelle surprise!

mashie

john01

23rd January 2010, 11:43 AM

be some nice footage from the sky soon

Spy Drones (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jan/23/cctv-sky-police-plan-drones?showallcomments=true#end-of-comments)
CCTV in the sky: police plan to use military-style spy drones
Arms manufacturer BAE Systems developing national strategy with consortium of government agencies

Police in the UK are planning to use unmanned spy drones, controversially deployed in Afghanistan, for the "routine" monitoring of antisocial motorists, protesters, agricultural thieves and fly-tippers, in a significant expansion of covert state surveillance.

The arms manufacturer BAE Systems, which produces a range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for war zones, is adapting the military-style planes for a consortium of government agencies led by Kent police.

Documents from the South Coast Partnership, a Home Office-backed project in which Kent police and others are developing a national drone plan with BAE, have been obtained by the Guardian under the Freedom of Information Act.

One document lists "[detecting] theft from cash machines, preventing theft of tractors and monitoring antisocial driving" as future tasks for police drones, while another states the aircraft could be used for road and railway monitoring, search and rescue, event security and covert urban surveillance.

Under a section entitled "Other routine tasks (Local Councils) – surveillance", another document states the drones could be used to combat "fly-posting, fly-tipping, abandoned vehicles, abnormal loads, waste management".

This is taken from one of the comments

A quote from an email I received from the Home Office in November, after making a query about state surveillance of innocent citizens:

"Unfortunately there are many people distressed by thoughts that they are under surveillance and being watched, attach sinister meanings to what are otherwise ordinary events or have unfounded suspicions about other people.

If such thoughts are making you feel very anxious, seeking professional medical help can be a good idea. May I suggest consulting a doctor or a cognitive behaviour therapist about these thoughts as they will be able to help you separate those things that have some basis in reality from those things that do not."

Yours sincerely,

D Beaney
Direct Communications Unit

My new year's resolution to avoid profane language is under a severe strain

PCProject

23rd January 2010, 12:21 PM

if you read from the same article they also say the herti ones are unlikely to be available within 5 years and the platform of choice is likely to be a 22m long airship type

not exactly covert now is it

CAA officials are sceptical that any Herti-type drone manufacturer can develop the technology to make them airworthy for the UK before 2015 at the earliest. However the South Coast Partnership has set its sights on another BAE prototype drone, the GA22 airship, developed by Lindstrand Technologies which would be subject to different regulations. BAE and Kent police believe the 22-metre long airship could be certified for civilian use by 2012

john01

23rd January 2010, 04:30 PM

not exactly covert now is it

in your face when they want to be, and 20,000 feet above you when they want to be discrete

deepvisual

31st March 2010, 04:42 PM

and as if by magic

police officer (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/mar/31/g20-police-sergeant-cleared-baton-charge) mistakes camera and carton of orange juice for weapon..... and assaults woman.

He said he repeatedly struck Fisher, who was considerably smaller than him, after mistaking a carton of orange juice and digital camera she was carrying for weapons
"I hoped that she would either fall to the ground, drop the weapons or go away and get back, either one of those things she had been asked to do on many occasions. But certainly to ensure that she was not able to use those weapons or that the weapons were not able to be used."
.

you can see how dangerous a lethal combination of orange juice and photography can be by visiting his fanpage on facebook. (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sergeant-Delroy-Smellie/100679163307287?v=wall)

werlin

1st April 2010, 02:18 PM

pigs will be pigs... over here at night they come talk to you with shotguns in their hands, ask for ids, see if you got something illegal and say "ok now move it, u cant stay here"

fortunatly we dont have the camera problem like in the uk

in the middle of all this i read:

Simply enter the following in the google search bar as follows: inurl:/view/index.shtml

and thought: oh goodie!! free content

do you have more on how to get by passwords to change camera views and zoom? :D

edit: this really gives a whole other meaning to "live visuals"

edit2: im in the vatican :D !! (if im not mistaken..) http://webcam2.primariaarad.ro:8082/view/index.shtml