To think this parent was wrong to phone the police?

[memoo]

Today DH and I took the the kids to the local park. To cut a very long story short after we had been there about 10 minutes a police car arrived, 2 officers got out and after a conversation with one of the dads they then approached a couple with two young children.

We were sat nearby this couple and so could hear exactly what was being said. The police officers asked the male of the couple if he had been taking pictures, He replied that yes he had taken pictures of the play area while his daughter was playing in it.

The policewoman then asked if he had been taking photos of other children in the play area to which the man said he hadn't.

They then searched his camera and his mobile! presumably checking the photos on there.

The conversation went on for a while longer until the police were finally satisfied that he really was just a loving dad taking photos of his daughter playing.

I just cannot believe that someone phoned the police! and said so very loudly within hearing of the man who phoned them

I think this is the most increadably sad thing I have ever witnessed! I think the man who phoned the police should be bloody shot!

As absolutely none of you, including the OP, have an idea WHO called the police, or WHY the police were called,or even, indeed, if the police WERE called (it is quite possible they were doing a routine run around the park) there is absolutely no reason for any of your assumptions, or conclusions.

No Madame we dont, but we can only go by what the OP has provided, so therefore no assumptions or conclusions made on anybodies part!

information is very clearly relevant, but we only have the OP to go by, and form our opinion on that!

Poor guy, that will be the last time he goes to the park with his family. what a sad state of affairs.

In addition, i wonder if the police would have been called if it was just the mum taking pics?

YANBU gone too far imo.

And all her OP says is that they asked him some questions and looked at his phone.

Out of which scenario the OP has opined the poor man is being harassed and what is the world coming to when a man can't even take pictures of his own kids blah blah and how mortifying and embarrassing and how its PC gone mad...

But we don't know what was on his phone, and we don't know that he is unknown to the police and we don't know oh,anything at all...

All we know that OP feels this man was being victimised and other posters think the police should not follow up child protection issues...without knowing anything at all.

As I said previously we dont know all the information, but THAT! can be said for any AIBU thread anybody starts, as we only get to hear one side of things/information/opinions etc....

We form our opinions on what the OP has said.

And as it is AIBU it is also important to question the OP for more info, rather than just accept it at face value.

Of course x

It is terribly sad.

Just today Id intended to get on with my chores,Dh was taking our dog for a walk and he begged me to go .....why? because he wont walk in the park without me or our ds for fear of accusation.

well, unless he makes a habit of taking photos of strange children while dog walking, I think he is over reacting a bit.

The OP can only give her picture of the incident. So we don't know what happened ten minutes before, and whether there was some sort of specific issue. So yes if someone thought the dad was taking pictures of other children and asked him not to, and he refused, then fair enough to call the police I guess, or if there was some sort of letching involved, but given that the OP reports she could hear the conversation that was had between this father and the police and did not say that any photos were deleted then presumably not. Although of course if the dad in question knew the police were being called the he could have deleted any suspect pics prior to the police arriving - although presumably if he was a very iffy chap they would simply have left on being told that the police were being called.

I don't see that the OP has made any complaints about the police here, just whoever made the call. I can't think of any other reason to worry about photographs apart from invasion of personal privacy or paedophilia, and I do think that people are unduly suspicious of men who show any interest in children, which is very sad.

Madam no he doesnt take any fotos but thinks people will think him odd.....

YANBU. I do think that parents should be able to take photos of their own kids in public without being treated with suspicion. This kind of thing makes me really paranoid about taking photos of my DD at parks or soft play or wherever, just in case other parents don't like it.

nickschick, your dh is not alone in thinking this way, ALOT of men do, due to the "peado on every corner" media

unfortunately, men always second guess themselves now where children's activities are concerned due to gossiping/accusation.

Message withdrawn

"The Chief Inspector phoned me back and said as she had taken pictures of my children I had the right to have them deleted"

Technically this is only true if they are on private property. Anyone out in public can be photographed without needing permission.

In modern Britain, you are innocent until proven guilty, unless you're a bloke, or a bit funny looking.

I can't take pictures of the wee one anywhere without worrying about this stuff. As a big, weird looking bloke, I'm a natural target.

"People are stopped and questioned all the time. WHere do you people live?"

Are they? In the UK? Where do you live?

I live in London, have lived in some dodgy parts, I have never been stopped and questioned

Let alone for being in the park with my children

To all the people who believe it was reasonable for the police to have questioned this man - what offence do you think it was possible he was committing?
There is no offence of 'taking pictures of other people', the playground would not have been a sensitive area as defined in the terrorism act. In this weather all the children would have been well wrapped up anyway.

There is a very real civil liberties issue here. It is not illegal to take photographs in public places. It is not illegal to take photographs of children. It is not even illegal to take photos of London landmarks, whatever some jobsworth members of the police try to pretend. (ACPO guidelines make this very clear.)

Yet busybody members of the public and officious coppers are making life very difficult for ordinary photographers going about their business, both people who earn their living snapping and those who just enjoy it as a hobby.

"Every man's a paedophile" hysteria + the misuse of anti-terrorism legislation = harassment of perfectly innocent members of the public going about their lawful business.

Agree with edam (as usual).