# Is it illegal to film the Police in the UK ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 1, 2009, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-to-film-the-police-in-the-uk/494957 "2009-05-01T11:55:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sizzles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e480ec/32.png) [@Sizzles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sizzles)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-to-film-the-police-in-the-uk/494957/1 "2009-05-01T11:55:42Z")
I was watching a TV panel show the other night and one the ‘celebs’ said that under anti-terrorist law it is now illegal to film the Police. Is that true ? Suppose the Police were searching my house, could they legally stop me from filming them ? ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-to-film-the-police-in-the-uk/494957/2 "2009-05-01T12:05:36Z")
I’ve never heard of this. In fact, that was one of the things that came out of the G20 protests. The Police admitted that they were under much close scrutiny than before because so many people can now film them on their mobiles. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-to-film-the-police-in-the-uk/494957/3 "2009-05-01T12:08:01Z")
New anti-terror law have outlawed it but only under certain circumstances. > [@](#): > > Yet, according to the Association of Chief Police Officers, the law is straightforward. “Police officers may not prevent someone from taking a photograph in public unless they suspect criminal or terrorist intent. Their powers are strictly regulated by law and once an image has been recorded, the police have no power to delete or confiscate it without a court order. This applies equally to members of the media seeking to record images, who do not need a permit to photograph or film in public places,” a spokeswoman said. [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/photographers-criminalised-as-police-abuse-antiterror-laws-1228149.html](http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/photographers-criminalised-as-police-abuse-antiterror-laws-1228149.html) However, like a lot of these rushed through anti-terror laws they are being used against normal joes who it is obvious have no terror reason for doing so. There have been numerous reports of Police in the UK stoppping people filiming claiming the anti-terror laws as a defense. Here’s a clear example of cops telling someone to stop filiming saying it was an offence. They then backed off when the guy behind the camera asked for clarification. Other situations haven’t gone so well. > **[Alex Jones' Endgame](http://www.endgamethemovie.com/)** ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-to-film-the-police-in-the-uk/494957/4 "2009-05-01T12:09:28Z")
[It can be illegal in certain circumstances](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7888301.stm) but saying it’s illegal per se is overstating the case a bit. > [@](#): > > Section 76 of the Counter Terrorism Act… permits the arrest of anyone found “eliciting, publishing or communicating information” relating to members of the armed forces, intelligence services and police officers, which is “likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism”. Which under the current government is going to be open to a vast amount of abuse. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-to-film-the-police-in-the-uk/494957/5 "2009-05-01T12:12:05Z")
[UK Photographers Rights](http://www.sirimo.co.uk/ukpr.php/2004/11/19/uk_photographers_rights_guide) There a pdf talking about the rights on that page. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-to-film-the-police-in-the-uk/494957/6 "2009-05-01T13:04:36Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > [UK Photographers Rights](http://www.sirimo.co.uk/ukpr.php/2004/11/19/uk_photographers_rights_guide) > > There a pdf talking about the rights on that page. Just a note that it’s still awaiting an update to take into account recent changes to legislation. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-to-film-the-police-in-the-uk/494957/7 "2009-05-01T13:06:05Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > New anti-terror law have outlawed it but only under certain circumstances. > > [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/photographers-criminalised-as-police-abuse-antiterror-laws-1228149.html](http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/photographers-criminalised-as-police-abuse-antiterror-laws-1228149.html) > > However, like a lot of these rushed through anti-terror laws they are being used against normal joes who it is obvious have no terror reason for doing so. There have been numerous reports of Police in the UK stoppping people filiming claiming the anti-terror laws as a defense. > > Here’s a clear example of cops telling someone to stop filiming saying it was an offence. They then backed off when the guy behind the camera asked for clarification. Other situations haven’t gone so well. > > [Alex Jones' Endgame](http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/september2007/240907Filming.htm) The latter clip is from 2007? Which means that the catch-all “anti-terrorism” excuse wasn’t in place. A similar defence now would not be so straightforward. ---
**Author:** ![shefDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@shefDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shefDave)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-to-film-the-police-in-the-uk/494957/8 "2009-05-01T13:21:06Z")
I think the best answer is, no-one’s really sure yet. It all depends how this section of the new Counter Terrorism Act 2008 is interpreted: > [@](#): > > **76 Offences relating to information about members of armed forces etc** > (1) After section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (collection of information) insert— > > **58A Eliciting, publishing or communicating information about members of armed forces etc** > > (1) A person commits an offence who— > > (a) elicits or attempts to elicit information about an individual who is or has been— > > (i) a member of Her Majesty’s forces, > > (ii) a member of any of the intelligence services, or > > (iii) a constable, > > which is of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, or > > (b) publishes or communicates any such information. > > (2) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that they had a reasonable excuse for their action. Pretty vague. Most newspapers, for example, aren’t taking any chances though. Since the law came into effect the faces of police officers are usually blurred. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-to-film-the-police-in-the-uk/494957/9 "2009-05-01T13:23:33Z")
I see my links are pretty crap. Sorry chaps. Should have looked harder at the search results. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-to-film-the-police-in-the-uk/494957/10 "2009-05-01T14:19:08Z")
Similarly, in Spain, the news will blur the faces of police officers. I am pretty sure it is quite legal to take pictures of anything happening in a public place although I have no idea about the rules about publishing them. The “right to privacy” is taken to ridiculous extremes in Spain. But the police, firefighters, ambulance people, etc count on people being intimidated and will routinely tell them “no taking pictures”. I have asked several times why not and generally just end up having a short argument and leaving but people in a uniform, even if they are just cleaning the garbage, have a sense of authority that turns them into total assholes and reagrdless of your legal rights it is best to not get into arguments with them because even if you are right you end up in a mess of a legal battle which can drag on for years. What I try to do is take the pictures unnoticed. I will be facing and pointing sideways, like I am adjusting the camera or my interest lies elsewhere, and then turn and take a shot in a split second and then go back to looking elsewhere. This works pretty well because they have no idea whether I took a photo or not. I have got some pretty good candid shots like this. Of course this doesn’t work with video. In summary, in Spain it is legal to take photos of the police AFAIK but they are complete dicks about it and it is better not to press the point. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-to-film-the-police-in-the-uk/494957/11 "2009-05-01T21:45:49Z")
> [@](#): > > (2) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that they had a reasonable excuse for their action. This is the key part. It’ll be up to the courts to decide whether your photos of a policeman, while technically being useful to a terrorist, are nonetheless reasonable. It’s the same problem outdoors types have with knives… it’s technically illegal to carry a fixed blade in your car, but if you are driving to a woodland campsite for a camping weekend it’s reasonable to take a knife with you. The problem is that a lot of people will give in to avoid a court case, accept a caution and end up with a criminal record. It’ll need a couple of test cases before the nuances become clear, but I fear most people will opt for a quiet life and limit their behaviour. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-to-film-the-police-in-the-uk/494957/12 "2009-05-01T21:53:32Z")
This whole issue has been a matter of some debate and controversy in the UK recently, with some police using the new laws, and the public’s ignorance of the scope of those laws, to adopt an overbearing attitude regarding photography in public places. It was discussed quite extensively in the House on Commons earlier in the month, and you can read the politicians’ dicussion [here](http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090401/halltext/90401h0004.htm) [scroll down to the heading Photography (Public Places)], and on the following page, [here](http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090401/halltext/90401h0005.htm). ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-to-film-the-police-in-the-uk/494957/13 "2009-05-02T00:05:42Z")
> [@Sizzles](#): > > I was watching a TV panel show the other night and one the ‘celebs’ said that under anti-terrorist law it is now illegal to film the Police. Is that true ? > > Suppose the Police were searching my house, could they legally stop me from filming them ? Am I the only one here picturing Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland ransacking someone’s abode? ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-to-film-the-police-in-the-uk/494957/14 "2009-05-02T00:44:53Z")
The situation in the UK is now very simple: if they want to find a reason to stop you doing whatever you’re doing, they’ll find one. This applies to taking photos of police officers, or anything else you can imagine. There is so much legislation, so vaguely defined and without test cases to clarify anything, that just about anything can be considered ‘illegal’ if some authority figure decides it is. ‘It’s for security reasons…’ and ‘…as part of the war on terror…’ are just two of the more common fictions and fantasies employed by those who want to stop you doing something, but there are countless others as well. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-to-film-the-police-in-the-uk/494957/15 "2009-05-02T10:06:40Z")
This is best summed up in this spoof news report:- [http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/police-to-target-the-hippies-with-video-cameras-200904151702/](http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/police-to-target-the-hippies-with-video-cameras-200904151702/) ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-to-film-the-police-in-the-uk/494957/16 "2009-05-02T11:51:21Z")
In UK security state, police film you! ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-illegal-to-film-the-police-in-the-uk/494957/17 "2009-05-02T14:13:13Z")
> [@riker1384](#): > > Am I the only one here picturing Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland ransacking someone’s abode? Well, they \*did \*start out as a punk group :).