Photography tips – UK laws and your rights




Find out what you can and can’t take photos of in the UK in this exclusive Practical Photography guide. Watch Tim take to the streets of London to see how people react to photographers, and get the official lowdown from Inspector Malcolm Graham from the Cambridgeshire Constabulary.

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45 responses to “Photography tips – UK laws and your rights”

  1. If funny that the police get pissed off if us tog are taking photos in and around busy places and they say we cant take photos but straight after the recent London attack they asked for photos and video to be sent in. it seems they want best of both words.

  2. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.
    Give a man a fishing rod and you feed him for life.
    Give a man a machete and he want's to be chief.
    Give a man an AK47 and he want's to be president.
    Give a man a two-way radio and he want's his arse kicked.

  3. I hope this isn't a silly question but I ask because sometimes the laws work (or don't work…) in mysterious ways: Does all of this also apply to someone shooting video with a dedicated video camera and not photos or, are there different concerns for someone shooting video?

  4. The ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) made clear to all police staff in 2010 that NO PERMISSION is required to photograph ANYTHING in a public place or visible from a public place. There are NO POWERS preventing moving or still images being captured in a public place. Anything the government or local council 'owns' is public property.

    NO unsworn staff, such as building security, litter and parking 'enforcement' wombles have any power over a member of the public in a public place. If they come over to tell you that 'you can't' partake of any lawful activity, simply tell them to mind their own business, and if they are really so concerned, to call a constable.

    Mind you, you'll then probably have to demand the presence of his/her supervisory inspector in order to set them straight – most police beat constables have a microscopic knowledge of the law, and WILL invent their own rules if it seems they might lose face.

    .

  5. Really helpful video and the delivery was perfect. Thank you. I have a quick question. I had a recent issue in my local shopping centre where I was coming down the escalator vlogging – the shot was 29 seconds. A security guard called me over at the bottom and said that I shouldn't record. If I did it again, he would ask me to delete it. Is it correct that a shopping centre, although private property, is open to the public and therefore deemed as being a public space? I did stop recording, but it makes me wonder about the hundreds who take photos of their food in the centre, those who snapchat and those who FaceTime. I emailed the operations manager, who said said… 'As a rule we don’t, we only approach if someone is behaving in a way that causes us concern. Don’t forget that by filming on the open Malls you are inadvertently recording other users of the malls without their permission. In order to publish your footage anywhere according to the Data Protection Act you should seek each individuals permission or disguise their identity e.g. smudge their faces out'. Seems like a fair response, although I mist have been a cause for concern whilst vlogging on my Canon G7X, however surely news reporters don't seek permission from the hundreds that walk past the camera whilst they're reporting on public/private land. So, my question – can I vlog in a shopping centre?

  6. Taking a pic of a building isn't going to make that building fall apart.if you've got nothing to hide or not doing anything illegal.why worry about a photo being taken of your building or business.

  7. Some really poor advice on this vid .
    10.35 the policeman advises that if things get heated with security or police " just comply"
    No mention of standing up for what is right then? or even your human rights or trying to educate those who wish to suppress them.
    What if the security or copper has inferiority issues and is using the situation to try and inflate their ego?
    "Just roll over and do as you are told, and go back to being a good little slave"
    If you want to preserve what little rights we have left then you must flex them from time to time.

  8. You don't have to answer their questions, they have no authority over you.
    We don't have to obey their corporate rules and regulations just because we are outside their business.
    Their job is to keep the building secure, not the street outside, they sometimes forget that the land that surrounds the building is paid for and owned by the public.

  9. Awesome video . Yes now a day security guy are making a big deal of this issue ; as us an enthusiast in photography , we love to capture the beauty of architecture . That is all , right guy?!

  10. If some one really wanted to do photography for some reconnaissance ( reconnoitre) , they would do it in a way that did not attract attention most likely, with a miniature camera and use the images off Google Street Maps. I would certainly not photograph any children ( in a public Park for example) without the consent of the Parent or guardian and, although military bases are not forbidden, I would only do so from a distance and if I wanted an up-close photo, I would ask the MOD if it was OK and, show them the photo's I had taken , deleting any they objected to as, if there really was an attack on a military base I could well attract the attention of MI6/5 which I could do without. I would never photo a military base in a foreign nation as this could land me on a charge of spying. Be careful what you film. Thanks for sharing this interesting video. Regards…..Abe (uk)

  11. Can't take a photograph of a building. Tell them all to get lost. There is nothing to stop the police confiscating equipment and deleting pictures. Who is going to prosecute them? The Authorities could accuse anyone of being a potential terrorist if they had a vendetta against someone. BUNDERCHOOK STARWORD POET Amazon UK>

  12. For security I'm guessing they mean terrorists. I'm pretty sure a terrorist has access to Google street view. They could even plan a walking route to and from a location. I've been lucky up to till now and have not met any stupid people saying I cant photograph buildings.

  13. A cop just saying just comply wtf no its your right don't just comply and give the Nazi security goons more power. That is what they want for f sake makes them feel hard and powerful. call the police and tell then your being harassed/attacked and do it in front of the goons.

  14. in the UK too work in any security role you must be SIA registered. and there rules are you you must display you SIA id card on your person when in a security role. I see virtually not of the security people here doing that, so if they approached me I would be calling the police on them. (and if/when I do get their ID forwarding there behavior to the SIA)

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