Terrorism & extreme political activity

You should make a note of the description of the person and any vehicle they may be travelling in and pass the information onto your local police station.

You can also report it to the Anti Terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321.

Everyone is entitled to his or her own beliefs and what a person does in their own home to a certain extent is up to them. However, there are offences that can be committed when a person uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or displays any written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting and he has the intention to stir up racial hatred or looking at all the facts that is the likely outcome.

This offence can be committed in a public place or in a private place but the offence is only committed in a private place if people outside the private place can see/hear the offensive material.

If you remain concerned about the activities taking place within the dwelling please contact your local police office for further advice.

These definitions are provided by the Terrorism Act 2000.

Terrorist is a person who,

• has committed certain offences under the Terrorism Act 2000, (for example, is linked to a proscribed organisation, provides money/property he suspects will be used for purposes of terrorism, uses money/property for purposes of terrorism) or
• is or has been concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

Terrorism means the use or threat of action where

• the action,
  • involves serious violence against a person,
  • involves serious damage to property,
  • endangers a person's life, other than that of the person committing the action,
  • creates a serious risk to the health or safety of the public or a section of the public, or
  • is designed seriously to interfere with or seriously to disrupt an electronic system or,
• the use or threat is designed to influence the government or international governmental organisation or to intimidate the public or a section of the public, and
• the use or threat is made for the purpose of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause.

If you have any information about anyone you believe to be involved in terrorism activity then contact your local police force or the Anti Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321.

From 7th January 2008 there has been a change in policy regarding the hand baggage rule and passengers can now take more than one piece of hand baggage. However, this depends on the airport having installed extra security measures and it also depends on the airline's policy. For the best up to date advice, you will need to contact the airline that you are flying with.

It is not illegal to take photographs or video footage in public places unless it is for criminal or terrorist purposes.

There will be places where you have access as a member of the public, but will have to ask permission or may be prevented altogether. These could include stately homes, museums, churches, shopping malls, railway stations and council / government buildings. You need to check the situation out on a case by case basis.

The taking of photographs of an individual without their consent is a civil matter. Taking a photo of a person where they can expect privacy (inside their home or garden) is likely to be a breach of privacy laws. The other issue to consider is what you plan to do with the photograph afterwards. If the picture is of an individual, perhaps as a portrait or character study, and you intend to publish it in any way (on the internet, in a book or at a gallery), it would be appropriate and may avoid unnecessary complications if you ask that person for permission. Many media organisations are international and will not accept an identifiable photograph of a person without a signed release. If the photo could be seen as defamatory in some way then you would leave yourself open to civil proceedings. 

The country is in a heightened state of alert (and will be for many years) because of potential terrorist attacks. So called 'soft targets' are particularly vulnerable. Security staff, the general public and police are much more aware of anyone taking photographs and you may be approached by someone, such as the police, when you are taking photographs near or in potential targets. Generally the police cannot seize the camera or memory card unless you are committing an offence or suspected of terrorist activity.

Finally, it is a specific offence to elicit information (which would include photographs) about members of armed forces, police officers or the intelligence services, which is likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, or publishes or communicates information of that kind. The law does not state that the person who gets the information has to use the information for terrorism purposes, just that the information is likely to be useful to a terrorist. There is a defence of 'reasonable excuse' for this offence, but it would be for the suspect / defendant to raise this matter.

Photographers need to be aware of this provision and be cautious when taking such photographs. The sort of occasion when it could cause a problem may be, for example, at an anti-war protest, when there may be a number of counter terrorism and intelligence operatives working in the area. If an officer makes an arrest for this offence it could cause a lot of unnecessary time wasted for both the officer and yourself, albeit that may only be until the facts are clarified.