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Illegal To Take a Photo In a Shopping Center?

Posted by Soulskill on from the common-paranoia dept.

New submitter Kyrall writes "A man was questioned by security guards and then police after taking a photo of his own child in a UK shopping center. The center apparently has a 'no photography' policy 'to protect the privacy of staff and shoppers and to have a legitimate opportunity to challenge suspicious behavior.' He was told by a security guard that taking a photo was illegal. He also said that a police officer claimed, 'he was within in his rights to confiscate the mobile phone on which the photos were taken.'"

6 of 544 comments (clear)

  1. Won't Somebody Please Think of the Shoppers? by xstonedogx · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A spokesperson for Braehead said it wanted to "maintain a safe and enjoyable environment" for shoppers.

    There is literally nothing I enjoy more than to have a security guard and the police question me in front of my small child when all I was doing was minding my own business.

  2. It has been reversed. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Seems the mall came to their senses.
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-15251848

  3. Re:When photography is outlawed.... by AHuxley · · Score: 5, Informative

    Re UK: "London Street Photography Festival" - fun to see how many thought public property was also mall like :)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJH9F7Hcluo

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    Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
  4. Re:Private property. by sjames · · Score: 5, Informative

    Interesting that you say that! It seems there was a fair sized protest on Facebook (and presumably email). From that page:

    Further to the previous statement Capital Shopping Centres Group PLC have confirmed that they will be changing the photography policy at the 11 directly owned centres and that at the other 3 centres, which owned in partnership with other companies, they will be discussing with their partners the policy change and recommending that it be adopted.

    As you will have seen Capital Shopping Centres Group PLC have issued a formal apology and said that they have changed their policy on photographs and will allow family and friends to take photographs. I do intend to keep the dialogue going with Capital Shopping Centres Group PLC and clarify that this aplies across all of 14 of their shopping centres including The Trafford Centre and Lakeside.

    I don't know how many people participated, but it seems to have been enough.

  5. Re:No. by AmonTheMetalhead · · Score: 5, Informative

    Actually, reality is a little bit more complex, the owner of the mall is within his rights to forbid the use of camera's within it's confines. However, that has to be clearly marked and the only thing he can legally do is ask you to leave the premises if you do take pictures. He does not have the right to delete your pictures nor to confiscate your device.

  6. Re:Photographer Rights by MysteriousPreacher · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well, that's complicated. If they have it posted that "No Photographs are allowed" then technically the pictures are THEIR property, not yours, and the same laws would apply which cover them being able to search, let's just say, a backpack which you've placed stolen items into.

    This is so painfully wrong, legally and logically, that I'm just going to respond by listing some animals.

    Dog, cat, rabbit, zebra.

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    -- Using the preview button since 2005