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feature comment is by a former student of mine,
Paul Amyes
""Last year I visited the UK and was
arrested under suspicion of being a terrorist and paedophile by two police
officers. I was taking photos in the street of a popular tourist location in the
South East of England. It was for me an incredibly frightening experience. I'm
disabled and walk with the aid of a stick. I was approached by two officers who
immediately started pushing me around and threatening to 'Tazer' me unless I
co-operated. I was made to lie face down in the street while I was handcuffed
and searched. My equipment was threatened with confiscation and destruction
under the the 'Prevention of Terrorism Act.' It was only when I taken down the
station and I asked to speak to the Australian Consulate that things started to
change. After three hours of being held in a cell I was told I could go only if
I agreed to not take the matter any further. If I wanted to make a complaint I
was told that I could be held for a further 72 hours without charges. As I had a
plane to catch that night I thought better of the whole situation and agreed not
to make a complaint.
"Later in the year I went to China. I was allowed to photograph where and what I liked. I even had police officers and soldiers posing for me at Tiananmen Square. People regard China as a totalitarian police state, but its ironic that I was treated better there than I was in Britain. "Now having seen that video and the the new posters put out by the Metropolitan Police about photographers it has certainly strengthened my resolve to never return to Britain." karl
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