Is the City of London a no-go area for photographers?

摘要

The words "I am a photographer, not a terrorist" were printed on the badge I was wearing when I was stopped and searched under section 44 of the Terrorism Act outside the Bank of America Merrill Lynch building last week. That a campaigning organisation of the same name was set up indicates that the issue of photographers' rights goes beyond the failure of my personal charm offensive.rnThe City of London also has a particularly high hit rate for stopping A-level students, pensioners and tourists. This is because the private security guards work closely with the police to overtly show how they are protecting the public from the threat of terrorism. Where it was once lobbies, lifts and loos that ensured a high return per square foot for letting office space, it now seems that a forceful and highly visible security force is an added selling point.