Jail for photographing police?

What the ?!?

Set to become law on 16 February, the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 amends the Terrorism Act 2000 regarding offences relating to information about members of armed forces, a member of the intelligence services, or a police officer.

The new set of rules, under section 76 of the 2008 Act and section 58A of the 2000 Act, will target anyone who ‘elicits or attempts to elicit information about (members of armed forces) … which is of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism’.

A person found guilty of this offence could be liable to imprisonment for up to 10 years, and to a fine.

British Journal of Photography – Jail for photographing police?

I can’t believe what I am reading! – This is ridiculous!

I understand that taking photos of sensitive buildings could be considered a security risk, and that places like airports already have restricted rights for taking photos, but the police and public places?

This is a serious problem for professional, particularly press, photographers but also amateur photographers. It won’t be long before you have to get any public photos approved by the government, and then we really will have an Orwellian Big Brother watching over us.