Asher Kelman
OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
In the USA, a major clarification of Photographers' Rights has been issued.
This means that you can record any police action, even in the public areas of private premises, (that would include Malls etc where the local rent a cops try to forbid shooting of any incident) . Well if we can photograph real police, there's no problem, I'd think with the private cops, as long as photographer maintains a distance and refrains from obstructive or interfering behavior.
"The letter goes on to provide what amounts to a prescription for a new policy that protects citizens rights. Among the recommendations:
BPD should clarify that the right to record public officials is not limited to streets and sidewalks – it includes areas where individuals have a legal right to be present, including an individual’s home or business, and common areas of public and private facilities and buildings.
[P]olicies should instruct officers that, except under limited circumstances, officers must not search or seize a camera or recording device without a warrant.
Officers should be advised not to threaten, intimidate, or otherwise discourage an individual from recording police officer enforcement activities or intentionally block or obstruct cameras or recording devices.
Policies should prohibit officers from destroying recording devices or cameras and deleting recordings or photographs under any circumstances.
If a general order permits individuals to record the police unless their actions interfere with police activity, the order should define what it means for an individual to interfere with police activity and, when possible, provide specific examples."
Read the entire publication, here and copy and print it.
Asher
This means that you can record any police action, even in the public areas of private premises, (that would include Malls etc where the local rent a cops try to forbid shooting of any incident) . Well if we can photograph real police, there's no problem, I'd think with the private cops, as long as photographer maintains a distance and refrains from obstructive or interfering behavior.
"The letter goes on to provide what amounts to a prescription for a new policy that protects citizens rights. Among the recommendations:
BPD should clarify that the right to record public officials is not limited to streets and sidewalks – it includes areas where individuals have a legal right to be present, including an individual’s home or business, and common areas of public and private facilities and buildings.
[P]olicies should instruct officers that, except under limited circumstances, officers must not search or seize a camera or recording device without a warrant.
Officers should be advised not to threaten, intimidate, or otherwise discourage an individual from recording police officer enforcement activities or intentionally block or obstruct cameras or recording devices.
Policies should prohibit officers from destroying recording devices or cameras and deleting recordings or photographs under any circumstances.
If a general order permits individuals to record the police unless their actions interfere with police activity, the order should define what it means for an individual to interfere with police activity and, when possible, provide specific examples."
Read the entire publication, here and copy and print it.
Asher