Photographers protest UK terror law

Photographby Oil Scarff/Getty Images

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Photographers say they have been unduly targeted by portion of act
• Section 44 of Terrorism Act 2000 allows police to stop and search without suspicion
• Court ruled that stop-and-search powers were breach of human rights
• British government is appealing decision

More than two thousand photographersdescended upon London’s Trafalgar Square this weekend to protest section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000, which was ruled unlawful by the European Court of Human Rights earlier this month.

As was predicted, UK police were on their best behavior during the protest as participants were able to photograph the square and themselves without incident. However, despite photographers having just one day free from harassment and the European Court of Human Rights’ ruling, Chief Constable Craig Mackey of the Association of Chief Police Officers said officers would continue to use stop and search powers while the court’s decision was appealed.

Be it here, in American or the UK, where there is a protest against the cops and the media cameras are there rolling of course the Cops will be on their best behavior. The can't show their true colors for the world to see.. However what will happen to these photographers in the days to come is the true question. Will the stops increase now, of course they will since big media cameras are not around. More photographers and tourists will be stop and harassed for taking photos.

Britain's terrorism laws were dealt a blow last week when the European Court of Human Rights ruled that stop-and-search powers under Section 44 of the Act were a breach of human rights.
The ruling came after lengthy legal fight by two people who were stopped and searched on their way to a London demonstration.
The court found that the "coercive powers" of the anti-terrorism legislation amounted to a clear interference with the right to respect for private life. The British government is appealing the decision, saying the powers are an important tool in the fight against terrorism.