We see the same nonsense over here. When our society abandons its values of freedom, self expression and openness, the people who hate these values have won. The West didn't win the Cold War by spying on its population, interning foreigners without trial, and giving authoritarian powers to every uniformed thug and bully. We won because our system is inherently stronger and more enduring than Communism was. Education, wealth and freedom of speech are far more powerful weapons in the clash of cultures than uniforms and cluster bombs. The morally corrupt politicians who play on our fears by exaggerating the threat of "terrorism" for narrow political advantage have a lot to answer for.
I get so mad about this stuff. But as mad as I get, I have a professional job for a major company, a house to pay for, a wife, and three kids to support. All those would be taken away if I did what I really wanted to. So my camera stays at home in the drawer. I get it out to photograph the sunset, clouds, or other sights from my own home. But I don't go out "looking for trouble" anymore. There's just too much to lose at this stage in life. I believe that's were they have us all. Just try to get an engineering job after being convicted of assaulting a police officer. The goons win every time. I believe many other people are in the same boat. We don't stand up to the filthy goons like the ones on that train because we know the price we will pay. So they keep on doing their dirty deeds. Someday I hope they shall pay.
That's the same article as the one that appeared in the Guardian recently, so I've merged the two threads. The version that Steve Hamley posted contains many useful links as well.
What shows me how much more common these issues are is the fact that a few years ago a thread like this would be filled with just as many people saying "That never REALLY Happens." Now it seems like something that happens to every one to some extent or another. I haven't had any bad experiences but questions from police who see me with a camera have changed from "Hey what kind of camera is that?" to "Why are you taking photos here" and "Who do you work for?"
all troubling stuff. I wonder what my response would be if two police officers (and they are always in pairs these days arent they - more intimidating that way) stopped me in a public place and demanded I hand over my film? I'd like to think I'd politely say "no, I'm not breaking the law and you can not require me to do so without a warrant from the court" but I know that in the heat of the moment, I doubt i could be so calm. In my professional life, having to collaborate with police officers in area of the law that they are not expert (eg anything outside of PACE) always resulted, without fail, in them arguing their way, in a bullish and non-compromising manner, to whatever they want to do rather than what they should do. Any question of that from a non-police person resulted in increased stubbornness. We'd hope our police force would be populated with intelligent and expert personnel, but sadly this just isnt the case - in the UK at least.
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