A photographer was stunned to be told he couldn’t take pictures on Sandbanks beach without a permit.He was understandably stunned, because the warden didn’t have a leg to stand on:
Steve Cook was in the middle of a charity shoot for Help for Heroes on Monday morning when he was stopped.
A beach warden insisted that commercial photography on the beach was prohibited by a Borough of Poole bylaw, unless you had the correct permit.And that was plain wrong, as the council had to admit.
Not that it stopped them from insisting they were right regardless:
The council has now admitted that was an error – but insists commercial and professional photographers must seek permission.Why? The beach is public space. If he doesn’t need a permit, he doesn’t need your permission, either.
And nor does anyone else.
Clearly rattled, the council apparatchik fled for safety to the comforting arms of – you guessed it – ‘elf ‘n safety, guv, know what I mean?
Anthony Rogers, recreation manager, said the council had to balance requests to film or take photographs on the beaches “with the interests of other beach users and our duty to ensure public safety.”Ask all you want, chum. Hopefully, people will treat you and your impertinent demands with the contempt you deserve…
While there was no bylaw, he added: “We do ask that any organisation or professional wishing to use council-owned land for commercial photography or filming to seek permission beforehand and provide evidence of public liability insurance. This is standard practice in the industry.”
Mr Cook said he had the relevant insurance, but added: “This is a policy that I've never heard of in all these years of beach photoshoots.It isn’t the case and they aren’t breaking any rules.
“If this truly is the case then all of the dozens of wedding photographers who do bridal shoots every week throughout the year on the beach or parks are breaking the council’s rules.”
And the sooner people begin reminding them that they work for us, the better…
Mark Wadsworth noted the parodic implications of the type of shoot he was on too.
7 comments:
Legal issues regarding precise text have delayed approval of Poole's 'Don't do anything else we tell yer not to do' Bylaws.
In stating his enthusiasm for fixed penalty notices, Poole's Assistant Director General of Beaches said "We have a legal duty to maximise bonus...er..revenues".
This jobsworth is only following the footsteps of various members of the police force who have taken objection to photographers in recent years.
"In stating his enthusiasm for fixed penalty notices, Poole's Assistant Director General of Beaches said "We have a legal duty to maximise bonus...er..revenues"."
Heh! Indeed...
"This jobsworth is only following the footsteps of various members of the police force who have taken objection to photographers in recent years."
Yup. Not hitting back hard and fast has emboldened them.
“We do ask that any organisation or professional wishing to use council-owned land for commercial photography or filming to seek permission beforehand and provide evidence of public liability insurance. This is standard practice in the industry.”
Is it fuck a standard practice in the industry. I know photographers and I reckon I'd have heard at least one mention it along with the various stupid copyright restrictions that they do have to deal with and aren't shy about bitching about. I'm positive that's a steaming pile of horse shit. What he might be saying is that it's a standard practice among councils and the officious little pricks they like to employ that permission must be sought to do just about fucking anything. There's a fee as well of course, but the point is to train everyone to assume that nothing is allowed unless expressly permitted. Bastards.
Ta for link, also for the one in the comments at LFAT.
The things that are done in the name of Elfansafetee. I'll come up against that tomorrow morning at the gym too.
"...the point is to train everyone to assume that nothing is allowed unless expressly permitted."
Yup!
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