Comments on: Have Britain’s Police become an instrument of terror? http://www.photolegal.com/index.php/2009/09/09/have-britains-police-become-an-instrument-of-terror/ A UK podcast about Photography and the Law Wed, 26 May 2010 19:39:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Mark Wood http://www.photolegal.com/index.php/2009/09/09/have-britains-police-become-an-instrument-of-terror/comment-page-1/#comment-886 Mark Wood Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:46:40 +0000 http://www.photolegal.com/?p=610#comment-886 I'm in complete agreement over the establishment of a 'fighting fund' to pursue police excesses and to shine a bright light on what the police are up to. I think part of the reason for the general public apathy is the relative success on the part of the police/government in portraying incidents as isolated, helped, no doubt, by the fact they are only generally reported on blogs or in the trade press. The erosion of civil liberties is not only an issue for photographers, but abuses of police power against photographers is a good way to raise public awareness of the issues and generate debate - after all, everyone has a camera. I would like to see every single incident collated, presented to and covered by the national press, with court proceedings brought where possible. Even the police might get bored at their negative portrayal, and the consequent loss of public confidence. I’m in complete agreement over the establishment of a ‘fighting fund’ to pursue police excesses and to shine a bright light on what the police are up to. I think part of the reason for the general public apathy is the relative success on the part of the police/government in portraying incidents as isolated, helped, no doubt, by the fact they are only generally reported on blogs or in the trade press.

The erosion of civil liberties is not only an issue for photographers, but abuses of police power against photographers is a good way to raise public awareness of the issues and generate debate – after all, everyone has a camera.

I would like to see every single incident collated, presented to and covered by the national press, with court proceedings brought where possible. Even the police might get bored at their negative portrayal, and the consequent loss of public confidence.

]]> By: Jameson Selby PI http://www.photolegal.com/index.php/2009/09/09/have-britains-police-become-an-instrument-of-terror/comment-page-1/#comment-875 Jameson Selby PI Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:26:15 +0000 http://www.photolegal.com/?p=610#comment-875 Is this because the Police are no longer "keepers of the peace" but "enforcers of the law"? Politically, Policing is now referred to as Law Enforcement and Police Officers are now Law Enforcers. Most of our MP's are Lawyers. We no longer have a Home Office; it is now the Ministry of Justice. These are not merely name changes nor is this just a case of semantics; it is a complete change of thinking - most laws that have been written since 1995 reflect this subtle but important change. How can this be changed? Let us hope that a change of government may help. Is this because the Police are no longer “keepers of the peace” but “enforcers of the law”?
Politically, Policing is now referred to as Law Enforcement and Police Officers are now Law Enforcers. Most of our MP’s are Lawyers. We no longer have a Home Office; it is now the Ministry of Justice. These are not merely name changes nor is this just a case of semantics; it is a complete change of thinking – most laws that have been written since 1995 reflect this subtle but important change. How can this be changed? Let us hope that a change of government may help.

]]> By: Sorry! Things have been a bit busy. :: Canid – Wild Photography http://www.photolegal.com/index.php/2009/09/09/have-britains-police-become-an-instrument-of-terror/comment-page-1/#comment-866 Sorry! Things have been a bit busy. :: Canid – Wild Photography Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:31:22 +0000 http://www.photolegal.com/?p=610#comment-866 [...] if you want to see the results when I bare my teeth, then check out the post I made over on PhotoLegal this [...] [...] if you want to see the results when I bare my teeth, then check out the post I made over on PhotoLegal this [...]

]]> By: Robert Brook http://www.photolegal.com/index.php/2009/09/09/have-britains-police-become-an-instrument-of-terror/comment-page-1/#comment-859 Robert Brook Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:25:34 +0000 http://www.photolegal.com/?p=610#comment-859 Sadly Darren the state apparatus is there to protect it's own existence and not that of the people it is for. The legal system is bent at every turn, we become more like a number everyday. Soon they will be carving national security numbers on gravestones instead of names as that is sadly fast all we are becoming. Sadly Darren the state apparatus is there to protect it’s own existence and not that of the people it is for. The legal system is bent at every turn, we become more like a number everyday. Soon they will be carving national security numbers on gravestones instead of names as that is sadly fast all we are becoming.

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