Kent News - 'Too tall' photographer arrested under terror laws

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'Too tall' photographer arrested under terror laws

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The shot that ended in arrest

A photographer has been arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for being “too tall”

Amateur snapper Alex Turner was in Chatham High Street when he was placed in handcuffs in front of shocked shoppers.

He was carted off to a police van before finally being officially released.

Writing on his blog, Mr Turner explained how the scandal started and how it ended with him submitting an official complaint to the force’s Professional Standards Department.

He said: “I went down to Chatham High Street to take some pictures of the flyover being demolished and to use up a film I’ve had in a camera for over a year.

“Doing so had some unexpected consequences.”

In his complaint, he wrote that on July 8, a police officer “placed me under arrest in Chatham High Street.

“The officer stated I was being arrested under section 44 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2000 and read me my rights. As I was arrested I was handcuffed. I asked why she had arrested me.

“She stated because I had taken a photograph of her and that she considered this to be an unlawful obstruction.

“After a short time I was led up the High Street and detained in a police van for around 20 minutes.

“The arrest was made immediately after I photographed her whilst voluntarily waiting as she spoke to a colleague on the phone,” he wrote.

It started when he was initially stopped by two men in the High Street saying they were from Medway Council. They called in the community officers who eventually arrested him for being a potential terrorist.

Mr Turner was searched before being ‘de-arrested’. He was in the police van for about 20 minutes before two plain clothes officers arrived.

Mr Turner said: “At no time had I made any physical resistance or attempts to move away whilst being questioned by any of the police officers, the PCSO or the two unidentified men claiming to work for Medway Council.”

He said the female officer said she was “intimidated” by Mr Turner’s size – he is 5ft 11in and weigh about 12 stone.

Afterwards, he wrote: “She offered a verbal apology and her hand for me to shake. I asked if I was free to go and continue to take pictures in the High Street, she informed me that I was. The other PCSO added as long as you don’t take any pictures of us.

“At this point I walked away feeling upset, embarrassed and traumatised by the events.

“I assert the officer is unsuitable to act as a police officer or at the very least requires further training if she is intimidated by a male of an unremarkable stature taking a single picture with a camera pointed in her direction.”

Assistant Chief Constable Allyn Thomas said: “Our officers are extremely vigilant and their primary concern is always the safety of the public.

“At the time of this incident, a police officer responded to a report concerning a man who was taking photographs of buildings and people in Chatham town centre.

“When challenged by the police officer the man refused to give any personal details which it was thought was suspicious.

“As a result, he was arrested and asked to wait in a police vehicle while his details were checked. He was released a short time later after these details had been properly verified, and no further action has been taken.”

After Mr Turner complained, Kent Police voluntarily referred the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which sent it back the Kent Police for investigation.

POSTED: 19/07/2009 12:00:00

If you¹ve got a complaint about your neighbourhood, or want to tell everyone about how great your town is, make a short film and post it on Your Kent TV service. Simply log on to YourKentTV.co.uk.

ADD YOUR COMMENT

Comments:

Added: Thursday 23/07/2009 11:35:19 UK

Is there some kind of collective insanity in the Kent force? Too tall? Whatever next. Wearing a loud shirt in the hours of darkness?
Being over six feet and owning a camera I shall now consider myself Osama Bin Laden and hand myself in at the nearest loony Police station when I'm next in the La La Land of Kent. Your police have made Kent a national joke. Well done PCSO stupid.

Ethan, UK, Essex