Canary Wharf jobsworths at it again!

I was pulled over by the security guards (these guys were not your ordinary guards in yellow jackets, they were higher up scumbags) in Canary Wharf for usin' my DSLR on April 2nd. They told me that it was private property and that press photographers or commercial photographers (of which they thought I was one, claimin' I was usin' a professional camera), are not allowed to make any monies from images taken in this place.
If I was, I would be escorted out of the area.

But if I wasn't then they were happy to let me photograph there. It rests on my word, how lame is that?

I accused them of discriminatin' against DSLR users of which they denied, and that I could show them many other people walkin' around with digicams in Canada Square who were'nt stopped at all, but they didn't want to know.

Now this place was built usin' taxpayers money (fact), and when I told these two 'jobsworths' that, they laughed and sniggered at me.

What I would like to know is where would I stand if I was to resist them and give them no information as to what I was doin', bearin' in mind that this place was built usin' taxpayers money and is a public space.

So thats the bottom line on this place, you can photograph there as long as your not press or a commercial photographer with the intention of makin' money off the images taken there.

They can ask you to leave without even giving a reason if you are standing on their private property. They might just not like the colour of your shoes, and they don't have to. You are trespassing if you don't leave when asked, then the police can be called to physically boot you off. Public money has nothing to do with it if it doesn't end up being a public place, legally.

When you are standing in a public place at the time (like on a public road) then generally you can photograph what you like without anyone stopping you, but there are complicated exceptions. I would expect complications with a place as sensitive as Canary Wharf.

However, no one has the right to make you delete any pictures without a court order, and that includes the police.

This article is not up-to-date, but you might find it interesting anyway:

http://www.sirimo.co.uk/media/UKPhotographersRights.pdf

Thanks for that article.

It looks like they cannot use much force when extricatin' you from the premises, and the courts are reluctant to penalise any photographer in this way. I wonder if this has all changed now?

You know Pete, that we only have their word that its private property! I don't see any signs on the street statin' this. If they are so sensitive why aren't there any public signs?

I will test them out on all this further, i'll be headin' in there again to see what other bullshit I come up against.

There is no substitute for being pleasant with people. Avoid confrontation. They only told you commercial photography was restricted on private property. You told them you were not a commercial photographer. Why prolong the conversation?

To be honest I would have wished them a nice day and moved on.

The amount of force a private individual (including a security guard) can use hasn't changed. The only thing relevant that I think has changed are new anti-terrorist laws that effectively allow the police to stop anyone photographing anything if they feel like it.

You'd have to ask a lawyer or property expert to check what rights you have for that particular place you were standing on. Some places that seem public (even some roads and pavements open to the public) are in fact private property. It's hard to know, and signs don't have to be put up.

If Canary Wharf is included in any special legislation that prevents you from taking photos of it from a genuinely public place (I don't know) then it would be a matter for the police to stop you, not a security officer.

ps. Personally I have not dared go near Canary Wharf to photograph it because I think, after 9/11, that's asking for trouble.

They were out of order. If it's a public space then there is no legal restriction on you taking photos, with certain common sense exceptions. If they tried to boot a professional journalist out for taking pictures they would find the mighty forces of HM Press falling about their ears big time. There are pictures from Canary Warf in our papers and on TV every day, particularly during the current financial crisis so where do the security men think these pictures come from?
I agree with some of the previous comments though. Make sure you really are in public space before arguing your rights. And I agree with John, be polite, don't get their backs up
david

I didn't in no way argue with 'em, I jus' tried to reason with 'em.

I was in Canary Wharf for over 45min. in and around Canada Square where there were lots of security officials, and police. I was there thinkin' that protesters may turn up for me to photograph.
While I was in this area I was pointin' my camera everywhere up at the architecture and I never got stopped at all. It was only when I started to walk upto Canary Wharf station on the main road that I was stopped.

This is inconsistency isn't it?!

Yes, because there's no logic to it. I think if anyone was up to no good there are plenty of photos already in existence to look at.

It annoys me too, but so far my theoretical patience has not been put to the test. I'll let you know as and when it is....

I once got hassle from a security plonker while photographing the QVC building in London from a public road. I couldn't reason with him, so I politely walked away.

On writing to the company, though, I was told I was welcome to photograph the building any time, and they even invited me inside for a tour.

How about writing to someone at Canary Wharf to check what the official policy is?

After all the publicity about photographers with serious looking gear getting hassled by officials in public places I wondered about a trip I would like to make to photograph the newly rebuilt St Pancras Station in London, one of England's architectural treasures.
Photo as well a railway enthusiasts magazines often have stories about officials overstepping the mark with photographers. I accessed the British Transport Police website which stated: 'All of Britain's Train Operating Companies and Network Rail welcome rail enthusiasts to their stations....' It then goes on to outline a few common sense rules and gives advice before saying 'You are allowed to take photographs on stations if it's for personal use. For any commercial photography you must ask prior permission from the appropriate train operator or Network Rail.'
I hope this may be of some help to PU members.
david

The guys at Piccadilly in Manchester were incredibly helpful when I asked to photograph the Train Shed, even pointing me in the direction of stairs to the best viewpoint.

It's the unpredicatable nature of things that makes so many of us wary. I suppose that comes down to the individuals concerned.

How about this then guys.

Last year I got pulled by the police in their patrol car for takin' a picture of the 'Gherkin' buildin' behind petticoat lane market, thats how far away from it I was.
Anyway, I won't bother you with the ludicrous nature of the police, but they issued me with a section 44 for believin' me to be upto terrorist activity.

Afterwards, I then went on another 500 yards, takin' more pictures as I went. Around and through the market and three streets, onto the 'Gherkin' buildin' proper.
And there right in front of me were what must have been over 30 tourists and other people takin' pictures of this buildin', and not a policeman in sight!

They gave me no complaint number, so when i got home I rang the anti-terrorist hotline and spoke to a very understandin' police officer, to cut a long story short he apologised to me for those coppers' actions. He then told me that they should have shown a little more intelligence in what they were doin'.

How 'bout that!?

When I come to London to see St Pancras I also hope to get photos of the gherkin. Perhaps I should use a point and shoot compact.
david

WHY ? why should you use a compact ? surely if you whip out a compact from your pocket, and run off a few shots, you are acting more like a terrorist !!! How many terrorists use nd grads and a remote release,wait for the best light and check their histograms? Are we going to stop terrorist, sorry tourist, buses driving all round london ? i understand security issues,but common sense still counts,doesn't it ? please tell me it does

I was being ironic. We all know about the twisted logic of officials who suspect someone with professional looking gear while ignoring the hoards of people snapping away with tiny compacts.
david