NYPD advises officers that photography is not a crime

The New York Police Department have issued an operations order regarding the treatment of street photographers.

“Given the City’s prominence as a tourist destination, practically all photography will have no connection to terrorism or unlawful conduct. Since photography and/or videotaping is rarely unlawful, absent any other forms of criminality, an investigation of a report of suspicious photography or videotaping thought to be terrorism related is governed by [normal rules…]”

“Members of the service may not demand to view photographs taken by a person absent consent or exigent circumstances…”

The NPYD are to be commended for their common sense attitude towards press photographers and tourists.

This is in sharp contrast to that of London’s Metropolitan Police, who baton charged press photographers at the G20 protests in April this year and threatened them with arrest if they refused to leave the scene.

Source: Gallery Hopper

Other items of interest:

‘Authority’ paranoia over photography in London
An interesting short film about the legality of taking photographs on the streets in the UK. There’s a nice interaction between the photographer and two Police Community Support Officers in Central London.

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