To think press photographers should be banned

[Tailtwister]

I've been looking at some photos relating to a very tragic and recent case in the media (I won't go over the case itself) which show a prison van arriving at court. Why are photographers allowed to get right up to the vehicle to try and take photos though the windows? Do they even get photos that way anyway? Shouldn't the police ensure the keep their distance?

It always makes me feel sick seeing it.

some very well known images of notorious criminals have been taken this way. The one of Peter Sutcliffe in particular.

I know what you mean .. However, I suppose they do it to feed the never ending ghoulishess of some of the population .

Sometimes, now you mention it, they do snap a photo of the prisoner/suspect inside ,. That Roy Whiting springs to mind . . Ian Brady was also pictured after his trial but he was in a regular van with windows not blacked out (was the 60s afterall) . Perhaps one day a photographer will be knocked over , , would be interesting to see outcome of any case for compo that arose .

Have seen those photo's myself. We don't even know if the suspected person is even in there, it could be someone completely different who is photographed.

The press seem to have taken up a whole pavement too on a main busy thoroughfare too, so they can film over the wall to the street below, because that is where prisoner vans go and park.

It could be that the extra policeman power is being used within the court to keep things in order there. There seemed to be a few arrangements being made to go and shout abuse... why do people do that too?

they wouldn't do it if papers didn't publish them and some people didnt want to see them

what about the rent-a-mob low life that turn up to shout and throw things at the van? They're far worse. At least the photographers can argue that they're working.

I dont disagree but also see the irony in the fact that we know there are press photographers trying to get shots in the van because we are looking at press photography of them.

what about the rent-a-mob low life that turn up to shout and throw things at the van? They're far worse.

Yes, they are far worse. I don't know what they get out of it.

I just think that if the person they are trying to photograph hasn't even had a chance to be heard in court yet and they are being hounded. It's making a very tragic situation worse.

Agreed Nancy66 ,, I know there is often anger involved (I clearly remember the mob attacking the van carrying James Bulger's murderers) but I wonder what it achieves kicking and hitting a police van and shouting . ? .Perhaps its a way for them to get their anger out system , who knows.

the sort of people who do shout at police vans don't tend to be the most savoury of characters themselves.

but the wider audience are the ones who think a crime like this is an extension of reality TV - they read true crime mags and Take a Break and rubber neck crash sites

If it's the same case I'm thinking about media have been outside court since before 5am this morning!!!

Jeez Weelady, I wasn't even up then. Maybe they were worried the prisoner would be taken before court opened for normal business.

One of my work colleagues told me he saw it on the way to work this morning! I think your right though

Hate it.

In fact newspapers don't really need to be illustrated at all if you think about it.

It depends on the case I suppose. I used to work in a house which was in a back alley that led to where a court house back entrance was. The guards would check all of the gardens and any entrances for paparazzi before driving people down if it was a big case.