Part 14 - Freedom to Photograph and Shoot Footage in Public Places

Question 1

What is the law surrounding the taking of photographs, filming, videoing or recording in public places?

Answer 1

There is no criminal law that restricts this.

Question 2

What should journalists do if they experience an attempt by police, community support officers or other officials or security guards or anyone else attempting to prevent them from taking photographs, filming, videoing or recording in public places?

Answer 2

They should point out that guidelines issued by the College of Policing confirm this freedom in respect of filming and photography as they state that police should not prevent filming and photography in public places and that it is good practice for police to give the media a good vantage place if an area is cordoned off.

Question 3

What other relevant law is stated in the College of Policing guidelines?

Answer 3

• the police have no power or moral responsibility to stop the filming or photographing of incidents or police personnel
• once an image has been recorded, police have no power to seize equipment, or delete or confiscate image or footage without a court order. An exception to this is that police can seize a camera from someone they reasonably suspect is a terrorist.