The UK’s Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, has given the go-ahead for photography to be restricted in the UK. In a very worrying sign of the times, Smith wrote in a letter to the National Union of Journalists that “Decisions may be made locally to restrict or monitor photography in reasonable circumstances. That is an operational decision for the officers involved based on the individual circumstances of each situation.” No clarification was given of what might constitute “reasonable circumstances”. The Home Secretary went on to say “‘It is for the local Chief Constable, in the case of your letter the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Force, to decide how his or her Officers and employees should best balance the rights to freedom of the press, freedom of expression and the need for public protection.” Considering that the Metropolitan Police force have already targeted photographers in a prominent poster campaign earlier this year, this isn’t particularly good news…

Website: BJP - Home Secretary green lights restrictions on photography

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