Police photography phobia reined in for once

British police forced to apologise after YouTube video showed cop accusing animal rights protester filming pet store of being a terrorist

A police force has apologised to an animal rights campaigner after she posted footage on YouTube of a PCSO falsely accusing her of having terrorist links.

Activist Ali Firth, 49, was filming outside a pet store in Yorkshire on her video camera when the police community support officer demanded she stop.

When she refused, the PCSO then threatened to confiscate her camera under the Terrorism Act 2000 claiming she was part of a group with known terrorist links - all of which she caught on tape.

Ms Firth was so upset by the the incident she posted the video on YouTube - which has now been viewed 5,000 times. She said: 'I was filming the Dogs 4 Us building. I didn’t want to film the officers but they walked in front of me and then started telling me to stop recording. 'I have never heard anything like this in the 30 years as an animal activist. 'Never have I been called a terrorist. It’s ridiculous.'

Earlier that day a policewoman had told Ms Firth to stop filming outside the pet supermarket Dogs 4 Us but she had refused on the grounds she was on public property and not breaking the law.

The video footage posted on YouTube then shows a PCSO telling a bemused Ms Firth he can confiscate her camera under the Terrorism Act 2000. When Ms Firth asks him to explain, he said the animal rights campaigner was part of a group 'connected to known terrorists'. She asked the officer to explain further but was told: 'No - it would breach data protection.'

Under British common law, anyone can film or take photographs in a public place and police do not have the power to stop them.

Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square are the only two locations in the UK with a specific provision against photography for commercial purposes.

Ms Firth had travelled from her home in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, to attend a protest outside the pet store in Bramley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, on January 29. Her animal rights group protest outside the pet shop once a month and often film outside the store.

Members of the public do not need a permit to film or photograph in public places and police have no power to stop them - unless there is a terrorist threat.

Under the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 it is an offence to publish a photograph of a constable - not including PCSOs - which is of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said a letter of apology was being issued. He added: 'We have looked into the circumstances of this incident and have spoken to the officers involved. It is important to note no camera or footage was confiscated.

'West Yorkshire Police has an excellent track record of facilitating peaceful protest, balancing the rights of protestors with those of private individuals and businesses.'

Original report here




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