Last time we were down Wellington, as we were getting changed we were passed a couple of times by two coppers on bikes, they never said anything

Sparty's Advice is spot-on - if you look like a rambling walker, then it's the best form of disguise.

The issue of public photography seems to becoming an increasing problem - whether it's related to child-protection issues or perceived terrorism threats. Nobdy's challenged me yet, but the imp of the perverse is probably going to make me ask the question "Do I look like a terrorist to you, officer?" before the conversation descends into a nasty allegation of stereotyping (ie I don't fit what I consider to be the profile).

Sadly, this is all part of a culture of H&S and pure paranoia that pervades the UK these days, be it at the hands of over-enthusiastic council workers, mis-informed police or merely 'difficult' landowners.

All the same, there's still a lot out there for us 😉

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I'd recommend looking as much like a walker as possible til you disappear down whichever hole it is you're off in. Getting changed in the carpark at Nenthead is accepted and a normal sight for the locals.

Other landowners are not always so accommodating and if you don't have permission to visit changing into bright yellow overalls on the roadside only attracts suspicion.

Totaly agree, the only thing lacking in my rambler disguise is the red gaiters and map hanging around the neck :lol:

Still, when the entrance is as close to the road as it is at Groverake I think it may draw more atention to walk 100yrds with a rucksack, before getting changed...

On a brighter note, the when the old bill had a look through my pictures he seemed to quite like them :thumbup:
(he didn't get as far as the underground ones though :sneaky: )

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Chaps, please remember that various landowners do frequent these forums before you say:-

Yes, I wear full camo gear, only go out at night and have adapted an Audi TT silencer to fit my petrol engined disc cutter, it is as quiet as a mouse's breathing.

Before anyone goes advertising the unwise :angel:

There has been some non-commercial activity there recently and with one of the local farmers using the site for his own purposes and with his farm within binocular distance of the mine ..... draw your own conclusions.
It's still a sad indictment of how things are these days and if there is a moral to this situation it's perhaps to keep away from mines right next to main roads and head off over the fells to more remote sites where you'll (hopefully) be left alone with only a friendly gamekeeper to chat to.


::)

Manxman.

It’s possible that the bill may have asked to see your pictures because he was interested. It’s easy for anyone to be misunderstood.

Having said this, I have been lead to understand that there are certain establishments, which includes power stations that it’s illegal to photograph. This is an area of the law with which I am not familiar. I was told this by a security guard at Dinorwig

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Nope not illegal to film/photo powerstations (even nuclear), oil depots, gas terminals, airports from befond the fence, railway stations, sidings, mines,

You can photograph anything basically except military bases etc or sites covered by the law and connected with Terrorism such as airport interiors, passport control offices.....

Erm I'm sure the bill that request to see my airline registration book or my pics are all enthusiasts :lol:

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I just thought I'd try and give this a visual perspective and ask which of the attached two characters would lead you to be suspicious???? :lol:

JUST FOR LAUGHS
🔗Personal-Album-856-Image-070[linkphoto]Personal-Album-856-Image-070[/linkphoto][/link]

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....which of the attached two characters would lead you to be suspicious???? :lol:

That's easy.
The fellow on the left has a beard.

I work for a local authority - yes there is a lot of worry about people hanging around school gates and taking photos. Most are probably innocent and are taking a photo of their old school but if I were a parent I might have a concern - the authority have a duty of care to protect kids whilst in their care so don't knock it there are some strange people about.

In general the bill are not that interested if it means paperwork, I was once challenged at Minera but she was more concerned about the rag that was in place of my lost petrol cap rather than the wetsuits and lamps we were geared up with

mike

The police up here must be bored out of their skulls
Pete probably made their day.

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have adapted an Audi TT silencer to fit my petrol engined disc cutter, it is as quiet as a mouse's breathing.

.......does that work then??
😉

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Nope not illegal to film/photo powerstations (even nuclear),

It all depends where you're taking the photos from, Terrorism Act 2006 does specifically quote trespassing on a nuclear site as an offence.

It all depends where you're taking the photos from, Terrorism Act 2006 does specifically quote trespassing on a nuclear site as an offence.

Yeah that's trespass, (ie breaking fences locks etc) not taking photos from outside the fence on a public road. - Yes I've done that (photos) from a public road of a *very* sensative site in scotland - because I had'nt broken anything (lets face it tresspass is hard to proove anyway) I got away with it.

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Unless there are any secret underground nuclear reactors I don't think we've got too much to worry about.

😉

I have, by coincidence, just read this news story

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090212/tuk-bishop-fuming-at-chimney-arrest-45dbed5.html 

The interesting point is "His wife, Annette, 49, who rushed to his aid after hearing his calls for help, was not allowed to video his arrest."

Although placing his kids on a chimney may not have ben that sensible, the police seem to have over reacted to a great extent! I hope he is successful in sueing them!

Regarding filming nuclear items. A mate was photographing (on a public road) lorries carrying nuclear flasks into a yard on Anglesey. On his arrival at home he had visitors waiting for him! The police wanting to know what he was doing etc, his number had obviously ben taken by someone.

Worst case secanario:

your cousin invites you to his dockyard to see his "boat" in refit.

we scramble all over the aforesaid "boat" inc 'sherwood forest' and the control room plus foreward torpedo space- the only bits we couldn't see were the "Engine space" and one of the "engineering spaces" - due to Lloyds 'radio testing'. - Leave Scotland.

Next thing we know there's a knock at the door

"MR Wormster, this is a warrent to search your premisis - DO NOT ASK QUESTIONS!!"

- Guys in uniforms with a red band round the hat - and a machiene that went "click, click, click" - well several hours later and no "click, click wheeeeee!" they leave.

A phone call back to Scotland "WTF?? we've just had the Snowdrops round - wassup??" - seems as if they lost a 'radio test isotope'

6 months later after the "boat" has left dry dock somebody is sweeping up in the bottom of the dry dock, and Lo and Behold! the "missing" isotope container was found.

some stupid matelot/shoresider had kicked the isotope over the dock edge.

PARANIOIA they has it!

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This I find quite a useful reference for Photographer's rights:

http://www.sirimo.co.uk/media/UKPhotographersRights.pdf 

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Gods and I was starting to believe i was the only one....

I was last stopped in the peak district whilst photographing the CHPR from a layby on the A515, I was asked what I was photographing and did I have permission 😮 , did I have ID?...... was it my car?, I responded by asking him why he had stopped to ask me, and I explained its not illegal to take pics from a public highway and that I had no ID (I did but was interested to know what would happen). He got on his radio, PNC'd my car, then suddenly he said he'd got another call..... I just stood there staggered!

Out of interest how long ago was that?

This http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/feb/12/photographers-anti-terror-laws  may be of interest.

Dave