We have been reading of the struggle of media and civil libertarians in England where the government continues to pass and enforce laws prohibiting things like photography of police and other sites. Now, we have a report of Alexander Turner who was given a citation for taking a picture of a fish and chips shop under the English anti-terrorism laws. The incriminating picture is below.
Turner says that he merely wanted to use some film that he had in a camera for over a year. However, he appears utterly clueless to the fact that he just showed Al Qaeda one of England’s signature fish and chips shops. If Chatham High Street is crowded with Bin Laden’s Fish and Chips shops next month, it is his doing.
It is not that we do not face the same idiocy in the United States (here). However, many civil libertarians are watching changes (here and here and herehere and here) in England with increasing alarm.
For the story, click here.
Dredd 1, July 11, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Hilarious. I never thought the Bobbies could outdo the boobies in Texas. I was wrong.
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Dredd, that is pro nou ced “W” not boobies, but then again Tri-Delt has some fairly large ones if I don’t mind saying.
I’ve enjoyed a good degree of narcissistic pleasure reading the interner chatter about my story. Got to give it to you guys – this post and comment thread has given me the wriest smile yet.
For what it’s worth the labour government of Britain has in my view pulled off an extraordinary achievement. After something like 12 years in power they now govern us with a unique blend of communist state control and sanctimonious posturing of fascism. Only in Britain. At least I hope so.
Future line of criminal #1 in Die Hard 6:
“Give me the ransom or I am taking the polaroid.”
@Big Fella:
“The paranoia that seems to usually emanate from the right has the potential to be the ultimate destructor of freedom.”
No, no… You had it right the first time… We must be fair. It was the LEFT who put in the 4 million cameras and Statist police controls. Mind you, Tony Blair was more a stepchild of Pinochet than Che. That soulless fck stole what used to be my country.
Well, not to be contrary, but paranoia on BOTH the left and the right has the potential to be the ultimate destroyer of freedom. I’m sure if Prof. Turley covered this (I’m not as good as a student as I should be), but here is a link to a story about the new environmental police in Australia.
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/06/12/australias-carbon-police-may-enter-premises/
As for the U.K., I have NO desire to visit their country during this escalation of their police state. When my wife I travel, in Europe or anywhere for that matter, we LOVE to take pictures. I would hate to be looking over my shoulder, worried that I would get cited, or worse tasered, for my alleged “terrorist” activity — taking pictures of the fish and chips shop where I had dinner. Good grief!
ID-
Best I can do is claim temporary insanity, I was thinking “right”, but somehow I typed “left”. I think the combination of aging, and a youth infatuated with demon rum have begun to take their toll, and the synapses up in the central nervous system are misfiring.
To set the record straight:
The paranoia that seems to usually emanate from the right has the potential to be the ultimate destructor of freedom.
Big Fella:
“The paranoia that seems to usually emanate from the left has the potential to be the ultimate destructor of freedom.”
would you please expand on that thought.
There have been a few recent cases in California where corporations or private owners of facilities such as office buildings or amusement parks have chased off amateur photographers using similar rationalizations. When the “authorities” such as the British police start to enforce such actions, it is time to become truly fearful.
The paranoia that seems to usually emanate from the left has the potential to be the ultimate destructor of freedom.
Good one Dredd!
Hilarious. I never thought the Bobbies could outdo the boobies in Texas. I was wrong.
O.K. smart asses–didn’t you catch the blue balloon in the picture? Don’t you realize there is a book called: “The Kite Runner”. And who wrote it? What nationality is the author? Both of these sinister objects are set aloft, usually by children. If that isn’t enough connection for you to comprehend the terrorist danger than I really don’t know what to say.
Someone needs to shed some shiner on this story.
I find the summons interesting. While the grounds are listed as “Prevention of Terrorism,” the stated “Offense” is “None Disclosed.” I am relieved that the box next to “Clothing Removed” is checked “No,” in an apparent reference to the nature of the search undertaken by the officer. The ethnicity designation code for officer and subject is instructive as well.
Humm, maybe we our ancestors will have to look in caves for dead sea scrolls type of things. Ya think that people might have hidden these things because of a government intrusion?