Snap Happy

Not directly enviro, but as we are moving towards increased monitoring and fines as regards such as rubbish disposal, it does become pertinent.

I just watched a BBC piece on a photographer who was taking street scenes, and was approached by a Community Support Officer who required him to delete the images because what he was doing was 'against the law'.

There was some discussion, with, all of all people, the editor of a shutterbug magazine, but no input from more relevant possible interviewees on the much more critical issues... IMHO.

Hence I have been moved to write:

Regarding the police support officer requiring someone to act against their wishes and rights by invoking a non-existent 'law'...

What is are the consequences, especially as regards this officers' career in enforcement and the greater issue of how the public responds to official instruction?

Personally , I now feel even less inclined to listen to and/or comply with anything from some jobsworth in a hi-vis jacket, which could lead to some less than helpful confrontations, but possibly useful precedent come a court case.

Come on BBC, we need answers and advice beyond a little 'outrage' human interest flutter. This goes to the heart of how the individual works with the state.

I certainly have concerns that there is an expanding class of individual who seem to think they can wield 'the law', with little tangible comeback from those they are meant to be serving if this is abused. If someone doesn't know the law, they should not be given the opportunity to enforce it.