DH got pulled up by cops for taking pictures of/near Euston Station yesterday... gotta waffle!

[MrsBigD]

Paranoia gone too far imho.

O.k. fair enough it's the anniversary of the London Bombings but ffs he was just wandering around taking general pictures of the local buildings as he's down there doing a course. He did a photography course a couple of weeks ago and obviously now loves playing with his super dooper camera . So took it with him to take some 'dreary' London shots.

Tuesday he got lip and 3rd degre from a cop for the first time... dh would't have minded a friendly 'what are you doing' and he would have explained, which he actually did, but that wasn't good enough for the cop, who was one of those volunteer ones (not that I've got anything against them but that one obviously suffered from some power delusions and got fresh. DH used to be in the forces so went 'get me your superior' who then duly appeared and dismissd the matter, i.e. dh taking pictures.

Then yesterday dh got the 3rd degree again from 2 female cops. They just couldn't understand why he would be interested in taking pictures of a busy main road in London. Erhem it's called the artist's perspectie... but never mind that. They 'requested' ID from DH and phoned it in!!! C'mon... he more looks like a Redneck than a terrorist!

DH actually took their badge numbers and they were from Southall so nowhere near their area. Looks like the Met is pulling all the troops to the main stations.

Then he got stopped twice more and trailed!

It's great that they are so alert, but aren't the going a bit too far? If dh werea terrorist and planning something big then he would have done the recon ages ago and not on the day before! Especially as he's been forces and knows how to 'organise' something like that!

Rant over better get ready for work now

Moved away from London, unfortunately.

I like Flickr because I'm in a nice little community there (the monthly scavenger hunt group) - very sociable and it's great to pick up other ideas and be inspired by other people's style and methods.

My self-given task for next week is to investigate exposure bracketting and HDR images - where 3 or more differently exposed shots get combined into one image - can be absolutely STUNNING. Would never have heard of it without being on a course or seeing other people try it.

Good on the police I say, and would someone please tell me what a terrorist is supposed to look like, then I shall make sure I steer clear in the future!!! I suppose if he had looked like a terrorist then it would have been fine to be rude to him.

I don't mean to sound flippant but if your DH had been a terrorist and something had happened I think we would have all been jumping up and down screaming about why this person had not been viewed as suspicious.

Hmmm, I'm not sure I see how hassling photographers makes any difference to terrorism. It's London, people take pictures. Lots and lots of people take pictures. And with small digital cameras, camera phones, etc etc, if people wanted to take pictures subtly, surely they could?

I really dont understand this? Why good on the police for being rude? MBD is not complaining about the police doing their duty and checking things out. She complaining about rude people who feel that their job gives them the right to talk to people like sh*t and give the majority of police people a bad name. These police people are NOT doing their job properly and are IMO are undermining the security procedures that are being put in place by alienating the very people they are supposed to protecting.

flutterbe, point taken on 'what does a terrorist look like' but my main point is they could have been a bit more polite

NQC I think you and dh would get on great ;) his pet hate is 'state endorsed terrorism'

GeorginaA, will check out that flickr site next week then. scavenger hunt sounds interesting

Georgina I have June and most of July's Wheel of the Year pics to put up.. sorry for the delay but things have been a bit hectic recently!

MrsBigD I would thoroughly recommend the Monthly Scavenger Hunt, good fun and a good group of people. Unfortunately I had to give it up due to lack of time and I really miss having the challenge.