I was interviewed this morning live on BBC Radio Kent about my arrest back in July. Here it is for anyone that wants a listen:
arrest : interview on BBC Radio Kent
Nov 30th, 2009 by monaxle
Nov 30th, 2009 by monaxle
I was interviewed this morning live on BBC Radio Kent about my arrest back in July. Here it is for anyone that wants a listen:
Well put.
Well done Alex! It’s wonderful that you have stood up and pursued this all the way.
Anna. X
Great. Calm and well-reasoned argument. Good that this has been picked up by the media (you’ve had honourable mentions in The Register, The British Journal of Photography and Amateur Photographer).
The harassment of photographers continues though and you’ve probably seen the story of the BBC photographer stopped taking pictures of St Paul’s this week. Thought you might like to see links to two separate incidents in Ealing. In the first the local paper’s photographer was stopped twice in a week. In the second the very irate snapper turned the tables on the bullying officer marched him to the station and made a complaint!
1. http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/news/community_support_police_stop_and_quiz_veteran_press_photographer_under_terrorism_act_2000_news_153278.html
2. http://hurstm.posterous.com/sat-17th-oct-ealing-broadway-1730-approx
Well put. I suppose the longer it goes on the more publicity this subject gets. I hope you get closure eventually in a manner satisfactory to yourself.
I and millions of others would not have acted any differently than you IMO so there but for the grace of god and all that…
You acted in a responsible manner if anyone cares to check the facts.
Well done mate.
Great stuff- bravo!
Very nicely done Alex.
As always you have handled yourself in a far more professional and dignified manner than those who are the alleged professionals.
An absolute pleasure to listen to that interview!
Very well done Alex!
Excellent responses, great answers and very constructive!
You have done yourself and the people that know you proud mate!
Well done!!
Another incident in the papers today involving a photographer getting stopped for taking pictures of Christmas lights.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1232513/Photographer-taking-pictures-Christmas-lights-questioned-police-anti-terror-laws.html
Re. Latest report.
“Under the 2002 Police Reform Act, PCSOs have the power to demand the name and address of a person suspected of committing a criminal offence or for antisocial behaviour.”
I see. So someone going about a perfectly legal activity of taking pictures in a public area is suspected of committing a criminal offence? Once again, it seems that plod have over-stepped the mark and have made up the law as they go along. If it’s legal, it’s legal. No two ways about it, so why was he questioned? Is there now a new law that we’ve not heard of that forbids the taking of “too many pictures”? This is now a crime? Totally insane. Just what do the the police think they are going to achieve by harassing perfectly innocent amateur photographers? Alienation is what they are going to achieve, without a doubt!
Alex
Your story has made the front page of the Independent today!
Thanks Catkins. BBC Breakfast show tomorrow at 07.40. They’re planning on running with the Independent article, interviewing Jerome Taylor and will be showing one of the pictures I took prior to my arrest.
I’m so pleased the issue is getting the attention it deserves.
Independent article on-line:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/warning-do-not-take-this-picture-1833127.html
You’ve now made the Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/philipjohnston/6724053/Photographers-and-anti-terrorism-The-holiday-snaps-that-could-get-you-arrested.html
“These are not isolated incidents. In the summer, Alex Turner, another amateur photographer, was arrested after he took pictures of Mick’s Plaice, a fish and chip shop in Chatham, Kent, evidently a building of great strategic importance to the jihadi godfathers in Waziristan.”
Your story was covered by the Today Programme on Friday. When discussing your arrest for photographing a chippie John Humphries asked if you planned to batter anyone. Don’t give up the day job John….
Discussion at 8.50am
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8394000/8394501.stm
Thanks for the heads up Catkins. I heard it myself all be it after the event. Your comment was very well timed. I’d just posted this: http://monaxle.com/2009/12/05/john-humphrys-gets-battered/ when I got it