Photographers Aid Terrorists SHOCKER!

While the National Union of Journalists was teaming up with comedian media activst Mark Thomas , Chris Atkins (the BAFTA nominated director and writer of the feature film documentary Taking Liberties), Marc Vallée (photojournalist blogger), The British Journal of Photography and others for a “media event” outside New Scotland Yard, I was busy trying to take photos useful for all my terrorist buddies.

I was a little unsure at exactly what would be useful but I just pointed my camera at whatever all the photographers outside New Scotland Yard were shooting. Apparently these photographers are well known for providing photos to terrorists so I assumed they knew what they were doing. They must be a terrible threat to security as a new law was came into power today which gives the cops the power to arrest photographers in order to prevent just this type of thing from happening. See video [1] [2] of the protest.

Media scrum or terrorist mob?

Mark and Marc, the terrible trouble twins

Which is the terrorist photographer?

Can you tell I'm a photographer?

Terrorist undercurrents during television interview

Anyway, I tried my best but unfortunately there were so many photographers that I don't think I managed to get any which might be useful to terrorists this time. Fear not however, regardless of this new law I intend to try again at the earliest opportunity.

• http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPage.html?page=836675
• http://marcvallee.wordpress.com/2009/02/04/im-a-photographer-not-a-terrorist/
• http://p10.hostingprod.com/@spyblog.org.uk/blog/2009/02/mass-photography-protest---11-am-monday-16th-february-2009-metropolitan-police-h.html
• http://www.nuj.org.uk/innerPagenuj.html?docid=1104

Photographers snap into action over new law

Comedian Mark Thomas is to join with NUJ members in an event to highlight the threat of a new UK law that could be used against press photographers taking pictures of the police.

The Counter Terrorism Act allows for the arrest and imprisonment of anyone whose pictures are “likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism”.

The union is joining with campaigners to organise a mass picture taking session outside London’s police HQ on Monday 16 February – the day the act becomes law.

Mark – who uses his comedy act to expose state and corporate wrongdoing – will be joined outside New Scotland Yard by renowned documentary-maker Chris Atkins, NUJ vice-president Pete Murray and a bevy of photographers.

Photojournalist and NUJ member Marc Vallée said: “The plan is simple, turn up with your camera and exercise your democratic right to take a photograph in a public place.”

There have already been cases of photographers stopped from working by police quoting anti-terror laws. 

John Toner, the NUJ’s organiser who looks after freelance photographers, said: “Police officers are in news pictures at all sorts of events – football matches, carnivals, state processions – so the union wants to make it clear that taking their pictures is not the act of a criminal.

“Our members are photographers – not terrorists.”

Roy Mincoff, NUJ Legal Officer, said: “Photographers do not want to endanger the health and safety of the police or the public – but it is important in a democracy that they can do their jobs properly without facing unnecessary legal restrictions.”

The photo taking will start at 11am outside New Scotland Yard on Broadway, London.