{"id":4646,"date":"2023-04-27T08:55:58","date_gmt":"2023-04-27T08:55:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theukrules.co.uk\/?page_id=4646"},"modified":"2023-09-08T09:18:25","modified_gmt":"2023-09-08T09:18:25","slug":"filming-police-on-duty","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.theukrules.co.uk\/rules\/legal\/police\/filming-police-on-duty\/","title":{"rendered":"Filming Police Officers On Duty During Stop and Search"},"content":{"rendered":"

CAN YOU FILM POLICE UK<\/strong>: This page explains your rights for filming the police during a stop and search.<\/p>\n

The police have no power to stop you filming or photographing officers on duty. Recording film footage on a police incident, or taking photographs of their actions, is not illegal.<\/p>\n

But, you must follow some basic guidelines if you choose to film police officers or law enforcement personnel.<\/p>\n

Ofcom statistics show 71% of adults own and use a smartphone in the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n

That means the majority of the public have a camera on their mobile phone. So more people are filming on duty police officers during a stop and search procedure.<\/p>\n

The information in this guide highlights how your film footage can make a difference in law. It also points out the value of using genuine film footage<\/strong> as potential evidence.<\/p>\n

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5 Reasons for Filming Police On Duty<\/h2>\n
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  1. The police often behave differently when ordinary people stop to film and record their actions.<\/li>\n
  2. Filming on duty police officers during a stop and search can make the experience less intimidating or less threatening.<\/li>\n
  3. The police will expect regular filming more often if duty police officers get filmed when they stop people.<\/li>\n
  4. Filming police on duty can show whether police stop and search powers<\/a> get used indiscriminately.<\/li>\n
  5. Genuine film footage can help provide valuable evidence if someone gets arrested<\/a> or there is a formal complaint.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    Is Filming the Police Illegal UK?<\/h3>\n

    Any member of the public can film a police officer on the streets without asking permission. There is no UK law stopping anyone filming activities in a public place.<\/p>\n

    All police forces in Great Britain adopt the Metropolitan Police guidelines on photography<\/a>. Their official advice clarifies the point.<\/p>\n

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    “The police have no power to stop you filming or photographing incidents<\/strong> or police personnel”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    Section 58A of the Terrorism Act 2000 <\/h5>\n

    The law states that police officers can stop you filming them if they believe the video will get used for purposes of terrorism.<\/p>\n

    A simplified definition of terrorism<\/a> is ‘a coerced unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property’.<\/p>\n

    But, police guidelines state that using this law too often could be unlawful. For Example: If Section 58A got used to arrest people photographing police officers<\/strong> in the course of normal policing activities.<\/p>\n

    Note<\/strong>: This does not apply when you stop to film the police stopping and searching<\/strong> people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    Important Points about Filming Police Officers<\/h3>\n

    It can often be a humiliating experience any time you are dealing with a police encounter<\/a>. This is especially so if you are the victim of a police stop and search operation.<\/p>\n

    If you plan to film the person who got stopped it is pertinent to ask them to agree to you recording the incident. You can assure them that you are only filming the actions of the police.<\/p>\n

    The police may ask you to stop filming saying that it ‘breaches the privacy<\/strong>‘ of the individual who is getting searched and questioned.<\/p>\n

    That is another reason to ask “I am here to ensure the police do not do anything to you that they are not supposed to do. Do you approve that I can record what the police officers are doing<\/strong> to you?”<\/p>\n

    It is always better if more than one person is filming the police officers on duty. You can choose between videoing the officers conducting the stop and search or having the other person film the cameraman.<\/p>\n

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    Avoid Being Arrested While You Film the Police<\/h3>\n

    Police officers never want incriminating footage of them if they make an unlawful act. In some cases it could leave you as a target. So you should be mindful of this when you are recording police officers on duty in case they try to arrest you<\/a>.<\/p>\n