To let a stranger take photos of my kids in the park

[Shoonie]

I was walking through a park in Bath at the weekend with my three children. Coming the other way was a middle aged and very overweight man a large camera. I assumed he was a tourist but as he got closer he stopped, pointed his camera to a building and then moved it quickly to take a photo of my children. I confronted him and he claimed he was within his rights to take photos. He was very well spoken - public school educated - and was obviously well read on his subjected. I reported him to the police - and heard nothing since. I know I should have just taken his camera and ripped out the memory card but the law is a strange beast and I would have probably ended up facing charges. I have to say that it was a deeply disturbing experience.

fat posh ones

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you were right to report him, i would have kicked up such a fuss aswell as reporting him its wrong!
if it was a nursey taking pictures they have to obtain written permission from the parents to take photos.
i am very wary as i was abused as a child and my mom works in a rehab hostel that takes in drunks peads rapists etc so i hear all the stories!
when my dd was small my mom told me one of there residents likes tights and takes ladies childrens tights off and does his manly thing in them i was sick my dd doesnt wear tights unless i know we are not going to be with anyone i dont know well!

and we're not allowed to take pics of our own children in thelocal swimming pool!

a man took photos of my dd when she was about 2, playing in woods,he did ask, said what he was going to do with it, use it for his university but years later i worry about it.

malorytowers, isnt it obvious, all peadophiles are publicschool boys and over weight!!! FFS, you are right, none of that is relevant.

However i would have been spitting teeth if it were me and probably rammed the camera up his jacksie. Then i would have been arrested for assault.

I heard an article on radio 2 about this not so long ago. Apparently it is not illeagal to take pictures of other people and you dont even need permission. I have found myself in a position once where i thought someone might have been photographing me and DD at the beach, it made me very uncomfortable, i put myself inbetween the guy and my DD and made it obvious as well. I didnt say anything as to be honest the guy could have been photographing the view.

I definately don't agree with photographing other peoples children. I can't understand why anyone would want to do that, but photographers do like to take pictures of people i suppose. My DP is a very amateur photographer and has taken pictures with children in inthe past, just because they were in the background I told him he must not do this and now he agrees. I also think you shouldnt take anyones picture without permission and have got cross with DP in the past for doing so. He did take a lovely picture once of an old couple feeding the squirrels in the park, developed in black and white and it is great, he said he got permission, im not entirely sure but no harm done i guess .

Hm, in a way I can see your worries there, op...but I also find it's sad that in our society something as harmless as taking a picture of a child/children can be straightaway laid out to be done with dubious reasons behind it....
Obviously it's not a surprise that asa society we tend to assume the worst, but you know what I mean.

Years ago, when es was a tiny Baby he slept on my arm (or possibly breastfed, can't remember) whilest we were sitting on a bus and the woman opposite sketched us...she did ask....apparently it was such a peaceful scene....

"pointed his camera to a building and then moved it quickly to take a photo of my children" - that's disturbing, if he had nothing to hide and wanted an artistic portrait, he would have asked...

Shoonie - were you in Vicky Park?

If you were you should go to the refreshment Kiosk by the tennis courts and give them a description and describe what occured - they'll make sure that it is circulated to the permanent Parks Department staff - also do the same at the Guildhall, they will then have it on record.

Alas after several days I have heard nothing from the Police. As for the description - this was not meant to stereotype but rather forewarn others in the vicinity or or those planning on visiting the area.

Yes it was close to Victoria Park but closer to the Crescent/Brock Street rather than the maion children's play area.

Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and advice. This really freaked my out but I'm glad to have got it off my chest.

Based on the response of the police - next time (I hope there won't be) I'll grab the camera and take the consequences .

Funnily enough Shoonie, I have seen a man of that description around the park who stood staring at DS1 and made me feel a bit uncomfortable. I also saw him staring a a little girl. I didnt think a lot of it at the time tbh, but I know it's proably best to be wary if I see him there again.

I've let people take photos of my kids but only when they asked first. My children are particularly photogenic of course . There was a Korean family who had recently moved to the town and they wanted a picture, of their little boy with my children in the park, to send home. And at the carnival someone wanted a photo of my kids in front of a carnival float as a memento. Again no problem. But asking first helps.

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news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/6917057.stm

Thought the OP might be interested in this story.

Trying again. If it doesn't work, go to BBC website - Scotland - News - Edinburgh and East. A very similar incident.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/6917057.stm

I take pictures of the children I face paint at events to use on my website..but always ask parents permission and advise them what the photo will be used for..however the furtiveness of this guy suggests he has something to hide and you were right to report it to the police