Olympic torch parade protests

Its Spring, but yesterday we saw the first fall of snow of the winter.

Although it was very cold, in the afternoon I thought I would take a stroll across Blackfriars Bridge to watch the Olympic torch pass St Paul's Cathedral.

Got there early, not much for the French TV crew or myself to see. More policemen than protesters.

Then suddenly, when I looked down Ludgate Hill I saw a tidal wave of humanity running towards me.


They were closely followed by police reinforcements, on foot and motorcycle.


Even though the crowed was a mixture of protesters opposed to China's human rights record and its occupation of Tibet, and pro-china supporters, the demonstration was good natured.

I only saw one argument, between a very angry pro-Tibet protester and a Chinese supporter.




The police were very quick to move in on any threat to the passage of the Olympic torch.













Unfortunately I did not see the torch. The plan had been for a team of runners to transport it from the Royal Festival Hall to St Paul's , but due to the number of demonstrators that plan was abandoned and the torch transported by bus.

I had been waiting over an hour to see the torch, my hands were freezing. I struggled to change the battery in my camera. Thought "lets go home for a cup of tea".

Offensive weapon

I took the above photograph last week. I subsequently spoke to the photographer in the picture - she works for a company specialising in architecture photography, she was spending all day taking time lapse shots of the City of London. The 0ther two figures are Community Wardens, this was the third time that day she had been asked to prove her identity and give an account of what she was doing.


Last Saturday I walked around unchallenged taking shots with my G9 camera. Unfortunately the images were not as good as I desired, so Tuesday afternoon I retraced my steps in the hope of achieving better results.

But things were different, three times I was challenged by security staff. I knew the reason, even before they spoke.

"You've stopped me because I'm using a ******?"
"Yes".

What had made me such a security risk?

The photos taken were, above passengers waiting to board a London Underground train, and below part of the River Thames flood control barrier at sunset.

The difference between Saturday and Tuesday - as with the young photographer - I was using a tripod!

A hand-held G9 camera, no problem. A G9 attached to a tripod, judging from security personnel reaction it becomes as threatening as a weapon of mass destruction.

Reading various message boards and forums it can be seen photographers are increasingly being harassed by the police and security staff, particularly if they are using tripods.

Its still not against the law in the UK to photograph in public - well in theory, in practice its a different story.

YesBut why?

Last Thursday the normal stream of commuters couldn’t be seen making their way home over Blackfriars Bridge. The pavement was eerily empty except for a group of policemen and an ambulance. On closer examination two policemen could be seen leaning over the bridge’s balustrade. There was also a police launch on station upstream of the bridge, accompanied by a Royal National Lifeboat Institution rescue boat. Had someone jumped off the bridge?

People walking along the Thames Embankment stopped and pointed to the bridge’s middle span. There was a man sitting on a ledge.

The services of approximately a dozen policemen, a police launch, rescue boat and ambulance were dedicated for the three hours it took to persuade the young man to climb back onto the bridge. No one would object to the expenditure involved in saving a life - even if the resources dedicated seemed to be excessive.

Having witnessing the events unfold, and the efforts of the City of London Police, it was a shock on Friday to hear the tearful please of a mother wanting to know why two Community Support Officers had stood by and watched her son drown.

In May, 10 year old Jordan Lyon was playing with his 8year old stepsister when she got into trouble in a pond in Wigan. He dived into the water to save her. Two anglers also jumped in and saved Bethany but unfortunately Jordan became submerged. The events were witnessed by Greater Manchester Police Community Support Officers (PCSO), who made no effort to take part in the rescue. Also the two PCSOs did not attend the inquest into Jordan’s tragic death.

Police chiefs have defended the two PCSOs stating “PCSOs are not trained to deal with major incidents such as this”.

So following police logic, if in the future I’m walking down the street and see an old woman fall, I shouldn’t help her to get up - because I’m not trained to assist old women.

If I see a lost child crying, I shouldn’t help - because I’m not trained to deal with lost children.

Unfortunately the tragic incident typifies some aspects of police procedure, where everything is done “according to the book”, and common sense no longer prevails.