Police Incident with my camera

[Bigends]

Cat said:

Bigends said:

They should know hes done nothing wrong and would question why they're even wasting time asking him

From the OP's description he's done nothing wrong but we have no idea what was reported to the police.

Without knowing the nature of the complaint to the police it is impossible to say they shouldn't be wasting their time.

If the OP had explained the circumstances and his actions then that would almost certainly have been the end of the matter. He didn't and so it isn't.

Cat

Theyve apparently not explained exactly what they think hes done wrong. Was it the way the OP acted when confronted in the store?

[anonymous-user]

Cat said:

From the OP's description he's done nothing wrong

Well... No one has actually confirmed this have they?

Is Tesco car park classed as private land?

What are Tesco's rules on photography on their premises?

Etc.

[Bigends]

NinjaPower said:

Cat said:

From the OP's description he's done nothing wrong

Well... No one has actually confirmed this have they?

Is Tesco car park classed as private land?

What are Tesco's rules on photography on their premises?

Etc.

That would be a matter for Tescos to pursue - not the Police!

[Dr Jekyll]

NinjaPower said:

Cat said:

From the OP's description he's done nothing wrong

Well... No one has actually confirmed this have they?

Is Tesco car park classed as private land?

What are Tesco's rules on photography on their premises?

Etc.

It's private land but still a public place. Tesco can make what rules they like and turf the OP off the premises if they like, but that's nothing to do with the police.

[Cat]

Bigends said:

Theyve apparently not explained exactly what they think hes done wrong

What relevance does that have to your claim that they should know he'd done nothing wrong without wasting their time making any enquiries?

Cat

[Bigends]

Cat said:

Bigends said:

Theyve apparently not explained exactly what they think hes done wrong

What relevance does that have to your claim that they should know he'd done nothing wrong without wasting their time making any enquiries?

Cat

When making enquiries its usual to explain what the complaint is followed by ..'and youre not actually allowed to do this because.....'

Seems this has all been left in mid air

[Trixxz]

purpleperil said:

Perhaps OP has managed to snap a piccy of a cop out with their mistress?

I thought the exact same thing!

What's more, it's entirely plausible

[threespires]

Sheepshanks said:

Of course - but it seems odd to invite a load hassle that could have been defused by a quick explanation.

And it won't stop - your car will have a marker against it now.

Yes, I see your point, but I already have that marker as a few months back I snapped a police car & a police officer went beserk at me. I said to her that what I was doing was not against the law and she said 'I don't care about the law' [Yes seriously, that's what she said.]

She continued screaming at me, simulated holding an iphone 6" from my face shouting 'How do you like having a camera stuck in your face'. [My photo of the police car was taken from a long distance with 300mm lens].

She said she would take my reg number & find out who I was and search faceboook to see if I had posted a photo of her, all the time screaming at the top of her voice. She was not in the photo I took & I told her that. She was extremely unpleasant and upset me especially as I'd done nothing wrong. If I'd behaved the same way to somebody as she did to me, then I would have been arrested I'm sure.

That might explain part of my belligerent attitude.

Edited by threespires on Saturday 30th January 22:00

[Dr Jekyll]

Cat said:

Bigends said:

Theyve apparently not explained exactly what they think hes done wrong

What relevance does that have to your claim that they should know he'd done nothing wrong without wasting their time making any enquiries?

Cat

Either they think he may have done something wrong, in which case they may as well explain what and allow him to give his side of the story. Or they have no reason to think he's done anything wrong and they are wasting their time on a fishing trip.

[Cat]

Bigends said:

When making enquiries its usual to explain what the complaint is followed by ..'and youre not actually allowed to do this because.....'

Seems this has all been left in mid air

I'd agree it doesn't sound like the best way to deal with it. However that doesn't change the fact that stating the police should know the OP hadn't done anything wrong and shouldn't be wasting their time, without knowing the nature of the allegation is ridiculous.

Cat

[Billyray911]

Hostile reconnaissance is a big thing at the moment and we should all be aware of it.Maybe the escalation of events is because the op has or was thought to have photographed something of note beyond the car park.
I do however think that the whole matter could have been de-escalated within the car park,when initially asked.Being a bit of a bell-end helps no one,makes you bitter and wastes everyone's time.
https://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/advice-and-supp...

[stevensdrs]

threespires said:

Sheepshanks said:

Of course - but it seems odd to invite a load hassle that could have been defused by a quick explanation.

And it won't stop - your car will have a marker against it now.

Yes, I see your point, but I already have that marker as a few months back I snapped a police car & a police officer went beserk at me. I said to her that what I was doing was not against the law and she said 'I don't care about the law' [Yes seriously, that's what she said.]

She continued screaming at me, simulated holding an iphone 6" from my face shouting 'How do you like having a camera stuck in your face'. [My photo of the police car was taken from a long distance with 300mm lens].

She said she would take my reg number & find out who I was and search faceboook to see if I had posted a photo of her, all the time screaming at the top of her voice. She was not in the photo I took & I told her that. She was extremely unpleasant and upset me especially as I'd done nothing wrong. If I'd behaved the same way to somebody as she did to me, then I would have been arrested I'm sure.

That might explain part of my belligerent attitude.

Edited by threespires on Saturday 30th January 22:00

If the above is true, why on earth did you not complain to the duty inspector responsible for the over zealous policewoman you refer to? You are perfectly entitled to take photographs in a public place, even of police cars, providing you do not use the photograph in an illegal way.

[threespires]

stevensdrs said:

If the above is true, why on earth did you not complain to the duty inspector responsible for the over zealous policewoman you refer to? You are perfectly entitled to take photographs in a public place, even of police cars, providing you do not use the photograph in an illegal way.

I have to say that for 24 hours I did feel that way but decided it was better to let it go and forget it.

In my latest brush with the law, I feel that the complainants should have been told by the police that they didn't have a valid complaint rather than being told that they would follow it up, thus reinforcing the complainants idea that what I was doing was against the law.

They could be in the pub tonight telling their pals how they reported a snapper & their pals will now believe that what I was doing was unlawful thus perpetuating the myths about photography do's and dont's.

[Bigends]

Cat said:

Bigends said:

When making enquiries its usual to explain what the complaint is followed by ..'and youre not actually allowed to do this because.....'

Seems this has all been left in mid air

I'd agree it doesn't sound like the best way to deal with it. However that doesn't change the fact that stating the police should know the OP hadn't done anything wrong and shouldn't be wasting their time, without knowing the nature of the allegation is ridiculous.

Cat

If the OP's been truthful in his account on here - I dont see any offences there -do you? They still haven't told him what hes done wrong. Was he abusive towards the bloke when confronted? Did he assault him? The cops have had time to speak to the complainant before going round to visit the OP so they should know exactly whats happened.

[cat with a hat]

I would also be as awkward as possible in your position OP.

It all sounds very odd.

purpleperil said:

Perhaps OP has managed to snap a piccy of a cop out with their mistress?

Would not be surpised

[Vipers]

Taking a photograph in a public place is totall legal.

[CoolHands]

Are you ginger with a long beard?

[btcc123]

NinjaPower said:

Cat said:

From the OP's description he's done nothing wrong

Well... No one has actually confirmed this have they?

Is Tesco car park classed as private land?

What are Tesco's rules on photography on their premises?

Etc.

I know for a fact Tesco do not allow anyone to take a photo inside one of their stores without permission.Not sure about in the car park though but cannot see it being a problem unless you were taking photos of children,the ATM machine etc.

[daemon]

threespires said:

Sheepshanks said:

Of course - but it seems odd to invite a load hassle that could have been defused by a quick explanation.

And it won't stop - your car will have a marker against it now.

Yes, I see your point, but I already have that marker as a few months back I snapped a police car & a police officer went beserk at me. I said to her that what I was doing was not against the law and she said 'I don't care about the law' [Yes seriously, that's what she said.]

She continued screaming at me, simulated holding an iphone 6" from my face shouting 'How do you like having a camera stuck in your face'. [My photo of the police car was taken from a long distance with 300mm lens].

She said she would take my reg number & find out who I was and search faceboook to see if I had posted a photo of her, all the time screaming at the top of her voice. She was not in the photo I took & I told her that. She was extremely unpleasant and upset me especially as I'd done nothing wrong. If I'd behaved the same way to somebody as she did to me, then I would have been arrested I'm sure.

That might explain part of my belligerent attitude.

Edited by threespires on Saturday 30th January 22:00

Have you thought that maybe photography isnt for you?

Sorry. Joking aside, there are assholes out there who take this sort of nonsense very seriously. God help you had there been a child in the shot.

Whoever comes out to see you next week, i'd be explaining to them exactly what you were doing, show them the photo and the sort of photos you take. You really need to shut this down with these pricks.

Edited by daemon on Saturday 30th January 22:49

[paintman]

threespires said:

Yesterday I went to a supermarket. Walking from my car to the entrance I saw a photo opportunity & pulled my camera out, framed the photo and I may or may not have taken a photo. The photo I framed included the local Cathedral in the background, a bird flying above a Tesco sign and three cars in the foreground, one of the cars had a man and a woman loading their shopping into the back of the car. The reason I framed the photo is that I do a 365 daily photo project and so I'm always on the hunt for today's photo.

When I got into the store the man who had been loading his car came up to me and asked why I was taking photos. I declined to answer & he said 'fair enough' & left.

Yet you're quite happy to come on a website and tell the world & his wife why you pointed a camera in a particular direction. Perhaps if you had told the chap what you've told us - which sounds perfectly reasonable to me - he would have been happy. Instead of being left wondering why you were taking photos & if you are a terrorist doing a recce for an attack on the local cathedral.