Getting caught for photography, by Police

[eclectyx]

Could there be any lawyer here who can shed some light on what are the rights of a photographer in SG? Or better still, with specific reference to laws contained in the law books?
Hope i'm not asking too much. Thanks.

Look it up: http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/

AFAIK, management of commercial buildings and places have been officially advised by the authorities to, among other things, watch out for suspicious (and surreptitious??) photography/videography of their properties, in the wake of 9/11 and the Yishun MRT incident. As is typical, by the time the message gets down to the security guys "on the ground", it just becomes "anyone with camera is terrorist".

One imagines though, that the advice must have mentioned specific intelligence briefings that the terrrorist head honchos have learned from the Yishun case where really bad camera work made for a lousy recce. Terrorist HQ have issued orders to all operatives to buy only Nikon or Canon DSLRs of minimum 6MP and for-goodness-sake get VR/IS lenses. Any fella using PnS or non-HD camcorder will be hung up by toenails. Hence, we only have to be vigilant against anyone with a "fancy" camera. ;p

 

[redstone]

The common misconceptions.


Big camera = potential terrorist
Big camera = professional commercial photographer
Big camera = the press


"eh, you have a big car, you must be the chauffeur (professional driver)"
"wow, your watch is Rolex, mine is cheapo watch, mine must be very inaccurate"
"you guard a big building, you must be very rich"
"you have a big mobile phone, you must be a very good debater"

:bsmilie: :bsmilie:


Which terrorist in his right mind would use such a big attention getting DSLR with big lens and the best trpod, whole set costing around $3000 when they can settle for pinhole camera or PnS camera at a fraction of thhe price? :bsmilie: ;p

 

[vince123123]

Perhaps these cries of terrorist are just another smoke screen

 

[redstone]

Sad...

 

[jbma]

Perhaps these cries of terrorist are just another smoke screen

Indeed it is.

 

[yokechye]

there is so many restriction taking photos in this world... i cant even stand on a wall beside the carpark starcase outside esplanade, and there is no sign of indication of no climbing or standng on the wall.

 

[redstone]

there is so many restriction taking photos in this world... i cant even stand on a wall beside the carpark starcase outside esplanade, and there is no sign of indication of no climbing or standng on the wall.

Esplanade is very strange. It wants itself to be a world famous landmark, yet people can't take photos of it? How ironic.


Um, i think because of saftey reasons? :think:

 

[the mac 13]

I was once walking along Orchard road near Paragon, when I saw an ambulance stopping at the side, and a police patrol car stopping behind it later. There I was being a kaypo(;p), and my cousin and me stopped to see whats the beef.

Then saw a policeman coming out of the partol car and then flashed out an SLR and taking pictures Paragon. :sweat:

 

[AReality]

I was once walking along Orchard road near Paragon, when I saw an ambulance stopping at the side, and a police patrol car stopping behind it later. There I was being a kaypo(;p), and my cousin and me stopped to see whats the beef.

Then saw a policeman coming out of the partol car and then flashed out an SLR and taking pictures Paragon. :sweat:

Wah... Maybe they're terrorists in disguise!:sweat: :sweat:
Who will stop a person in police uniform taking pics of installations? ;p


.

 

[yokechye]

Wah... Maybe they're terrorists in disguise!:sweat: :sweat:
Who will stop a person in police uniform taking pics of installations? ;p


.

suppose they are taking the pictures of the surrounding context in respect scene of accident? heheh :bsmilie:

 

[redstone]

I email to MinLaw. Law forwarded to Police, and got reply. :bigeyes:

 

[madmacs]

I email to MinLaw. Law forwarded to Police, and got reply. :bigeyes:

what they say? :dunno:

 

[redstone]

Official Reply by Singapore Police Force.
Complete with reference numbers:

"Any agreement is between the person and the owners of the building, whose
security guards act as their agents. As it is a private premises, they can
impose conditions, which have to be complied. Taking photographs of a
private building outside the private premises is NOT a criminal offence.
However, buildings which are gazetted as Prohibited or Protected have
restrictions on photography."

Thank you and best regards.


Paul Tan
for Quality Service Manager
Singapore Police Force

 

[vince123123]

Now you can print out and stuff it to the faces of those over zealous guards who make up their own laws.

 

[redstone]

So we can all stand in one line outside Esplanade, with our biggest DSLRs, biggest lens, heaviest tripod, biggest camera bags, biggest flash (laymen presume biggest is best? ). Shoot in burst mode in front of the guard. :devil:

 

[grumpy]

:thumbsup:

You should make the reply into a jpeg or pdf and make it available to all to download and bring along for all shoots!

 

[madmacs]

So we can all stand in one line outside Esplanade, with our biggest DSLRs, biggest lens, heaviest tripod, biggest camera bags, biggest flash. Shoot in burst mode in front of the guard. :devil:

thanks for sharing the note.

ya...stand one line..but must first check where the boundary of esplanade starts :bsmilie:

 

[madmacs]

:thumbsup:

You should make the reply into a jpeg or pdf and make it available to all to download and bring along for all shoots!

good idea...

er..redstone, can send us copies (with your personal info removed)?

 

[redstone]

thanks for sharing the note.

ya...stand one line..but must first check where the boundary of esplanade starts :bsmilie:

Is where the pathing changes. Quite easy to see, actually. I think the sidewalk by the road is public property.

 

[madmacs]

Is where the pathing changes. Quite easy to see, actually. I think the sidewalk by the road is public property.

hahaha...i was just kidding. so far i shoot a few times at esplanade never get chased away.. even in the early hours of dawn