Mags

I have ethical issues re photographing anon and naware individuls in any places, but this is different.

I`d check with Police to get a real view [dare one say `authentc`]!. 

David


>>> Mags Adams <[log in to unmask]> 12/11/07 4:20 PM >>>
Hi all, 

I had an interesting experience yesterday while undertaking a site-visit of
Coventry city centre where my colleagues and I will be doing fieldwork in
January.  Four of us were in the city centre looking for locations to use as
part of a soundwalk.  We were taking notes about the locations we were in
and photographs in four directions (N, S, E, W).  The research is a project
about urban soundscapes (The Positive Soundscape Project) and we intend to
take people on soundwalks in three cities to discuss observations about
sound in the urban environment.  We visited a number of locations in the
city centre without incident, but when we were taking pictures in an
outdoor, pedestrianised shopping precinct we were approached by two security
men in fluorescent jackets.  One of my colleagues at the other side of the
square was simultaneously approached by two PCSOs.  The two security people
told us we could not take photos in public places as it was against the
law!!  We explained what we were doing and who we were and they said we
needed permission to take pictures and that we could get that from an
organisation called CV1 - they seemed a bit unclear who CV1 were - they
aren't police, but they didn't confirm they were a private security company
either.  They said they were the city centre management team.  It appears we
were in a highly observed CCTV area and eventually a fifth person appeared -
this time from CV1 - to tell us we would have to have permission from them
to continue with our work.  They were all very polite and it appears that it
won't be a problem to obtain this 'permission' but I do have some queries
about this as it feels like an infringement of personal freedoms - is it?  

 

Does anyone know the law about taking photos in public places?  And what
about quasi-public (probably privately owned) spaces?  Is this an
'anti-terrorism' reaction or is there another reason for this?  Has anyone
else experienced this type of thing when conducting their research?  In the
past I've used participant-directed photo-surveys as a key methodology for
my work and am now concerned that I won't be able to ask people to go out
into their communities to take photos as I could be putting them in a
difficult position.  What do you think?  

 

I know there's lots of issues tied up in all this but perhaps some of you
have been through this yourselves?  

 

Mags 

 

Dr Mags Adams

Senior Research Fellow

Acoustics Research Centre

Newton Building

University of Salford

Salford M5 4WT

 

Tel: +44 (0)161 295 4599

Email:  <mailto:[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask]