Taking photos and the Terrorism Act

Blogging has been a little quieter than normal today, as I decided to spend the day with the kids instead taking in a few attractions in central London. However, whilst in London I spotted a bit of an anomaly.

There has been a lot of noise in the main stream press recently, with regards to the taking of photos of public buildings. The news reports have been filled with stories of ordinary people being pulled up by the police, for taking the photos under the aupices of the Terrorism Act. Even the leader of the opposition on Greenwich Council, Tory councillor Spencer Drury has found himself questioned whilst taking photos for a leaflet. But what struck me was the sheer volumn of tourists taking photos of Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament, and even police officers themselves!

So why were none of these people pulled up, and questioned? If the taking of a photo of a public building, such a local suburb police station, is seen as a possible terrorist activity, then why not Downing Street?

Just a thought.

For the record I think the almost clinical nature and abuse of power by the authorities, pulling people up for doing this, is why the Terrorism Act was such a badly written piece of legislation.