Prompted by this beeb article, and this Early Day Motion proposed by Austin Mitchell, I decided I had best do something sensible. I recently started carrying a sheet summarising the law on photography in public places in my camera bag. It seems this was a smart move, as Boing Boing has reported another case of over the top thuggery by private security in response to street photography and this has been picked up by Samizdata. As Perry dH points out the UK public has been quite cynically manipulated into this culture of fear and control. Street photography is just one aspect of life that has been affected by the terrorist/pedo/hoody ‘menace’.
I’ve written to my MP to ask him the sign the EDM (he hasn’t yet. Lazy bugger!) and I’d suggest you do the same. Writetothem.com makes this easy to do and it might possibly make a difference where street photography is concerned. In this case the law is currently on our side and, unlike handguns, swords or airsoft, photography is enjoyed by nice middle class people. Hopefully this won’t be something else we lose to the statists.
However, whatever happens will not really effect this fear and control culture. What is the answer to that? I think it boils down to personal responsibility. Take personal responsibility for your safety, how you react to threats and how you perceive the world. Do not allow the state or corporations to define your world view so you scurry about with your head down, allowing them to grab more and more power. Stop and think about the message your are being given. Reject this infantilising diet of fear and ignorance and take responsibility.
