tarboat's photos with the keyword: banned

Clearly reading is not top priority for the boating classes in Garlieston, SW Scotland.

Now it's not the greatest of photographs but I rather liked the idea of the site photograph on the sign with the real thing in the background. I have collected several such images of Chinese industrial sites without difficulty over the past few years. So there I was stood at the side of the public road when I was accosted by two security men from a cabin at the entrance to the United Utilities Mersey Valley Processing Centre on the right. Apparently they were of the view that photography was forbidden and, indeed, illegal. This was an interesting attitude as I was in a public place and there is no law that I know of that forbids photography of United Utilities signs. When I explained that for this reason I would not stop taking photographs they went off to call for the police. I never saw any police and assume that security were either bluffing or were told not to be so daft.

Boss security man is on his way as the discussions between his junior operative and myself were proving too slow in removing my presence from outside the National Grid Gas facility at Carrington. I had already walked right around the perimeter on various paths but it transpired that the stretch of road I was standing on here was private property with no public rights over it. Once this became clear I didn't hang around, particularly as I had already got the shots I wanted.

It's happened again! I am getting really tired of security people, and others, trying to tell me that photography is not allowed. In this case I was with two friends taking photographs from the canal towpath outside the Lostock Works of Brunner Mond. Then this guy arrives in his little white van, crosses the bridge and comes up the path shouting that we must stop immediately and that photography is not allowed. After I asked him who he was and why no photos allowed he said because Brunner Mond didn't allow it. I suggested that Brunner Mond had no say in whether I could take photos from a public place and he went off to get the police. Funnily enough no police arrived and when we saw him later he was still insisting that we could not take photos. I wonder how many people are put off by this sort of intimidation.

The harassment continues. I went for a look at the Manchester Ship Canal at Latchford and the adjacent Novelis aluminium recycling factory. It wasn't more than a minute before I was accosted by a woman demanding to know why I was taking photographs and insisting that it wasn't allowed in the works. When I pointed out that I was stood on a public road and not in the factory she went off making a mobile phone call. Next came a guy waving a security ID telling me to stop as it was illegal to photograph private property. When I ignored him and attempted another shot he put his hand on my lens...... It's a good job that I am non-violent as many people would have decked him at that point. Instead I withdrew to the other side of the road and snapped him as he phoned the police to ask for their attendance. He didn't like it! By the time I had walked back to my car I espied a police officer and a police community service officer walking down the road. As they walked past the car and towards the factory I decided that I didn't need any more hassle and questions and headed off for other adventures where, it transpired, the locals were much more friendly and co-operative. I will not be stopped by all this bluster and antagonism. Why should a lawful pastime be so interrupted and harassed? I got my shots anyway. :-)

I had a day out mooching around the Potteries with the camera snapping a bit of industry here, a bit of dereliction there. Mid-afternoon I reached the former Twyfords sanitaryware factory at Cliff Vale and was happily taking photographs from out on the road when this guy walked out and asked me what I was doing. When I told him I was taking pictures of the factory he said that this was prohibited because it was a private building. I advised him that it did not mean that I could not take photos from a public place but he was quite insistent and wanted to know where I was from. When I refused to answer any more of his questions he called his boss on his radio and advised him that I was an awkward *$!*%£. He headed back in and I took this shot, but when another guy came out and walked down the street behind me I decided it was time to leave. It's a strange old world these days!