[Dave]

Paddling pool punishment

An elderly widow was stopped from taking photos of a deserted paddling pool because of fears she was a paedophile - is this going too far?

Pensioner Betty Robinson was left stunned when a female official suddenly appeared from a hut and ordered her to stop taking pictures.

Keen amateur photographer Betty and her pal Brenda Bennett had been out for a day trip to see an ocean liner leaving the docks in Southampton, Hants.

On the way home they decided to stop off and take some photos of scenes of the city's historic common. However, as soon as 82 year old Betty pointed her lens at the empty fenced off paddling pool, she ended up in hot water. The two widows could not believe it when the council worker ordered them to stop taking photos of the pool.


Betty, who has been taking photos at the park for decades, said she couldn't believe it.

Mike Harris, who is head of leisure and culture at Southampton City Council, which is responsible for the pool has now apologised.He said staff will now be briefed about using their discretion when they see people taking photos on the Common.

Source : GMTV

[Steve]

There doesn't appear to be much of a story here. Its simply yet another 'semi' official misunderstanding the laws of what one is and isn't allowed to photography in public. I know that this misconception is becoming more common but sometimes it could just be a case of a mistake being made.

Either way it seems the council has apologised and said they will brief their staff so that it doesn't happen again. I don't see what else we could hope for as a better outcome from the incident?

[eyesociety]

I saw this as well.
What is the world coming too. photographer's will soon be afraid to take picture's
when they are out and about.

[Chris H]

With all due respect Steve I think this goes deeper than a simple mistake.

When an 82 year old woman and her friend are stopped from taking picture of an empty swimming pool it's gone too far.

There are far too many petty officials who seem to think they have the right to interfere with peoples rights to freedom.

If the pool was full of little kids splashing an playing then there may be a slight reason to " ask " them not to take photographs, but an empty pool !!!

I went round Amsterdam over the weekend, and it was refreshing not to be looked at and challenged just for carrying a camera.

People who are in a responsible position should also act responsibly. If that had happened to my Mother of 73 I'd have been furious even with an appology.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Chris H

With all due respect Steve I think this goes deeper than a simple mistake.

I don't offend easily I am playing devils advocate here...Its difficult to say if the person has acted by following rules/guidelines they have been issued with or is actually some jobsworth.

Originally Posted by Chris H

When an 82 year old woman and her friend are stopped from taking picture of an empty swimming pool it's gone too far.

This I agree with, no argument there.

Originally Posted by Chris H

There are far too many petty officials who seem to think they have the right to interfere with peoples rights to freedom.

But who do we point the finger at? The official or the officials superiors who previously, either implied or directly might have instructed them to take that action. Like I said just as many officials are becoming jobsworths, I also get the feeling that many photographers are also quick to apportion blame.

Originally Posted by Chris H

I went round Amsterdam over the weekend, and it was refreshing not to be looked at and challenged just for carrying a camera.

Luckily I also experience that freedom here in Germany too and maybe that is why I am a able to offer the olive branch so to speak. I can see both sides to this argument but its not clear who decided that this official was responsible (rightly or wrongly) in preventing the old lady from taking the photos.

Originally Posted by Chris H

People who are in a responsible position should also act responsibly. If that had happened to my Mother of 73 I'd have been furious even with an appology.

I think you have the right to be furious but it really doesn't help improve the situation for the future. Doing as the lady has done and make the issue public so that they have to officially respond and admit that they were wrong is a far better result IMO

[simpbow]

Its a disgrace

[Summerleft]

Another jobs worth know it all, whats their weekend job, traffic warden?

[Charlotte]

Honestly, some of these officials just have no common sense

[M1ke A]

Originally Posted by Steve

But who do we point the finger at? The official or the officials superiors who previously, either implied or directly might have instructed them to take that action.

Both I'd say.

You have some minimum wage lackey on a power trip who makes a bad call. Their boss then has to back them up for fear of lossing face, even though everyone knows these people have just made themselves look utterly stupid.

The Register posted an article Heathrow T5 security tackles Transformers t-shirt threat | The Register describing such PC stupidity

[Chris H]

It looks to me like the terrorists have done exactly what they have set out to do.

They have caused suspicion and disrupted society at it's basic level.

It beggers belief that guards should stop people for wearing the wrong t-shirt, Grannies taking pictures of empty pools and a host of other stupid reasons.

Time now to get a grip and stop the scaremongering and petty stupidity in the name of terrorism. It's now the officials that are causeing terror not those who carry bombs and kill people.

[bain]

proberly a comunications fault here, if the council had only applied the right signage "ie" NO RUNNING
NO DIVING
NO PETTING
NO SMOKING
NO PHOTOGRAPHY
NO TERRORIST
NO LAUGHING
NO APPOLIGY

[Charlotte]

Originally Posted by M1ke A

Both I'd say.

You have some minimum wage lackey on a power trip who make