Ethics

Mr. Orwell, Call Your Office

By Ed Brayton

The British government has made certain places in the country areas where, if you take pictures of them, the police can stop and search you even without probable cause. There's just one little problem: They won't tell anyone what they can and can't photograph.

The Home Office has rejected a Freedom of Information Act request filed by the BJP regarding the disclosure of the list of all areas where police officers are authorised to stop-and-search photographers under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000....

While it is common knowledge that the entire City of London, at the behest of the Metropolitan Police, is covered by the legislation, it remains unclear which other areas in England and Wales have requested the stop-and-search powers.

Full post as published by Dispatches from the Culture Wars on June 19, 2009 (boomark / email).