to not really understand why you can't take photos of your children at a swimming centre???

[tryingtobemarypoppins]

and its not all centres is it?

"Reminds me of that Mners husband (I think, or maybe it was a news story that was discussed here, it was bonkers anyway) who had parked his car next to a park at lunchtime and was eating his sarnies while checking his emails and got rounded on by a group of daily mail readers mothers convinced he was a paedo"

haha i think that was me, if it was about a long time ago. or at least something similar happened to me while i was waiting to play football many moons ago.

Before I had children, I was in the park with a couple of close friends and their children. A young guy walked past with a camera, and he took a couple of snaps of the eldest boys. My friend went straight over to grill him; he was a foreign photography student and was completely bemused at being challenged.

At the time I thought her reaction a bit OTT but accepted that as a non-parent I might not 'get it'. Now I am a mother and I still don't get it. If a creepy guy was following my dd round and trying to get his lens up her skirt - now, that would get me going. But her ending up in a casual shot - I really, really don't see the risk.

MsSparkle, I'm really sympathetic to what you're saying and I understand your reaction. But do you think it enshrined in public policy will help?