The law is an ass.
So download our stop and search bust card, print it out and stick it in your wallet:
Right Click, Save As, Print.
About the card
The card concentrates mainly on your rights under s44 of the Terrorism Act 2000, which is widely used across the country against photographers. It allows the police and the Home Secretary to define any area in the country as well as a time period wherein they could stop and search any vehicle or person, and seize “articles of a kind which could be used in connection with terrorism” without first having grounds for suspecting the person is a terrorist or is carrying any articles that might be useful to a terrorist.
It also covers other laws under which photography may be restricted in the UK.
The Law
The card is not intended to be a substitute for full legal advice, it is simply an states your rights when stopped and searched. When dealing with the police there is always a balance between your rights – not telling them anything – and what might be advisable – telling them your name and explaining what your doing.
The card has been compiled by photographers with many years experience dealing with the police and stops and searches as well as legal advice from lawyer Anna Mazzola who specialises in public law, human rights, actions against the police and other detaining authorities.
For more in depth, but not quite wallet sized, discussion about photography and UK law check out the Photo-Forum Know Your Rights video
Used the card?
Have you used our card when being stopped and searched? Is there something you think we should add? let us know in the comments below
Just been stopped and issued with a Form 5090 because I was photographing roses in a public park. Roses, for goodness sake. I suppose children could have been in the background (that, apparently was why the PCSO stopped me) but they would have been out of focus. I showed her the photos, she was happy, but continued to follow me through the park. Next thing I’m stopped by two PCs and two PCSOs on bikes.
I explain why I’m there (testing my new camera), show them the photos, but, thanks to having seen this website some months ago, refused to give them my details. Nothing they can do of course, but I’m badly shaken up, distressed even, and the proud owner of a form 5090.
Their description includes, “receding/balding hair”. Bloody cheeck, it’s a high forehead.
I got a call from a PCSO yesterday and was told I couldn’t stand in any window of my house OR take any photos from my home windows – of anything! This because the yobs across the road from me claimed I was “harassing” them by taking photos of them – when they were on their balcony! They have no expectation of privacy when sitting in plain view of a multi-story building. They and the PCSO admitted the yobs have been harassing ME by ‘acting out’ (a nice way of putting their dropping their pants and giving me the ‘salute’ every time they see me). I told the PCSO what he could do with his ‘order’ not to use any window of my home OR take photos! I have a lovely view from my top floor home and frequently take pictures – with my standard, Argo-variety digital camera, 3x zoom lens – of the sea, the view, and the wildlife and have every intention of continuing to do so! I can’t believe the gall of this alleged “officer”!!
While out celebrating a friend joining the army, we went to Carlisle race course, I photographed a PC holding a struggling hooligan while a course security guard punched him in the stomach. Half an hour later I was asked to step outside by the course stweard where a PC asked me to delete the photos, I said no and he `invited` me down to the station, so I gave in and deleted away, shame I had not known about this sight then. However I probably would have still complied as I didn`t want to spoil the day with a trip to the cells.
I hope you had some recovery software and got the deleted photo back. There are plenty of free apps on the web. They’ll recover deleted pics and will also recover from a format.
Now section 44 has been confined to the bin, would it be possible to update the card with a reference to a court order to be obtained to delete images. Also a reference that section 44 has now been repealed. Just especially for the really thick officers out there.
Hello
I would like to know how is it with my rigts when I am taking pictures in clubs and on festivals…?
Clearly I am interested mainly in taking photographs of what is happening on the stage, however sometimes I am shooting the audience as well and from time to time there are individual complainers…some of them pretty abusive.