At a recent SPF clubs representatives quarterly meting a local club chairman gave meeting a disturbing report. The report was of an incident involving two club members who were photographing in a local park, a junior rugby match was underway and they stopped to take a few photos.
They were approached by two large sized men, who asked them to stop taking photographs, demanded their names and addresses stating that they were CPOs of the rugby club. The photographers explained that 1) they were amateur photographers, 2) members of a bonafide club, 3) had been coming to this park for several years and never had a problem before, 4) showed the CPOs the images taken and agreed to remove them from the cameras.
Later at home the police arrived, in response to a complaint made by the CPOs, and interviewed the photographers at length and were allowed to view the computer all the time saying things like “we have to safeguard the children from potential harm”. The police never actually mentioned paedophilia but the club members felt that a check had been made.
Read the details of this event and many more relevant links on Simon Taylor's site on http://www.phooto.co.uk/rights.shtml. This site is invaluable and we must be thankful to Simon for bringing out so clearly the true facts and cutting through hysteria and paranoia.
CPOs.
Child Protection Officer is a designated member of any club, now required if any member of that club is under the age of 16. Currently there is no legal requirement for training for CPOs.
RPS, PAGB & SPF.
All of these organisations are aware of similar incidents and there is an ‘Early Day Motion’ on the floor of the Parliament concerning the restriction of the rights of photographers. Currently some 40+ MPs have signed up to this EDM. But no action is likely because of time pressures on MPs.
Rights of photography.
There are several areas of restrictions concerning photography, far too many to state here but they include: - national security, court proceedings, wildlife, private property, bank notes, public places and many more!
Your rights and responsibilities.
It is unfortunate that now it is better to think on the lines that “it is OK to take photographs as long as the law says so”! Therefore it is up to you the photographer to know your rights and of the laws governing our pastime/hobby. One distinct advantage of knowing the law and your rights is that if confronted you will at least be in a position to avoided possible prosecutions, embarrassments and harassment.
An article written by Linda Macpherson LL.b, Dip.L.P.,LL. M a lecturer in law, and published as a PDF is available from http://www.sirimo.co.uk/ukpr.php
This short guide gives a balanced idea of the do’s and don’ts, but must be read knowing that the laws do change.
Disclaimer. This information is to the best of my knowledge, true and accurate.