Photographers are increasingly being viewed as potential criminals by police, according to the Bureau of Freelance Photographers (BFP), which has reported a rise in complaints from members states Amateur Photographer.
Police are said to be using stop and search powers without reasonable cause to prevent both professional and amateur photographers from taking pictures. It cites a recent example where amateur Phil Smith was searched by police for photographing the Ipswich town Christmas lights switch on ‘without a licence’.