Photography enthusiasts are becoming victims of the ?atmosphere of panic? that surrounds the police crackdown on terrorism, according to MP Austin Mitchell.
Mitchell was giving us his initial reaction to news that AP reader Roy Jhuboo had been stopped by police in Limehouse, east London, on 9 November while out taking photographs.
Jhuboo claims police suspected he could have been planning a reconnaissance mission for a ?rocket? attack on nearby Canary Wharf and that they detained him for around 20mins under the Terrorism Act before releasing him.
Mitchell ? a fervent campaigner for photographers? rights ? said: ?This is the new silliness that photographers are now saboteurs and terrorists. It?s just an atmosphere of panic.?
Police have so far not been able to confirm the incident but have said there is ?increased security alerts and extra vigilance everywhere?.
Earlier this year the Labour MP for Great Grimsby hit out at London Mayor Ken Livingstone who had suggested signs should be put up in public areas to warn parents of the supposed dangers of digital photography, in support of police plans to crackdown on paedophiles.
Livingstone had warned parents to be vigilant about strangers using digital cameras and camera phones to take pictures of children in London?s parks and ?other public spaces?.
Mitchell – who chairs the Parliamentary All-Party Photography Group – branded Livingstone?s move ?political correctness gone mad?, sparking AP?s nationwide campaign to fight for the rights of photographers to freely take pictures in public.
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