Number 10 responded earlier today to an online petition calling for a clarification of photographers’ rights.

The office of the Prime Minister posted the response on Number10.gov.uk - the official blog of the office.

This virtually gives the police carte blanche to hassle people pointing cameras in public places. As I read it, it’s saying “of course it’s legal to take pictures in public places, unless a policeman or policewoman decide otherwise.”

While a less-than-judiciously applied breach of the peace arrest may get thrown out by a magistrate, the hassle and humiliation of being arrested may be enough to instil a sense of unease in photographers every time they point a camera.

Hobbyist already feel uneasy having a camera out when there are kids around, or near government buildings, in spite of it being perfectly legal.

This strikes me as being another instance of slowly chipping away civil rights at worst, or maybe just Number 10 allowing the executive branch a bit more public muscle flexing. Neither is very good news for beleaguered hobby photographers.