What a load of moronic b/s. There are numerous pictures already floating around that anything of importance is readily available. What it really is, is the government trying to limit the press and the citizens. Many police are getting caught doing unlawful acts and are embarrassed when they think they have all the video, but don't due to citizens using their phones as cameras. Instead of worrying about image the police should worry about getting rid of the hired trash. The wording is so vague that any picture could be said to be "likely" used by someone with evil intent. Terrorism is invoked more and more as a blanket excuse in any circumstance where governments want to force more control on their citizens. I can see this happening in the US if the UK successfully implements it there. I guess governments of the world believe in the "butterfly effect." They are going to keep pushing making increasingly outrageous claims and laws until the citizens stop it.

http://www.nuj.org.uk/innerPagenuj.html?docid=1104
Photographers snap into action over new law
Sunday, 15th February 2009

Comedian Mark Thomas is to join with NUJ members in an event to highlight the threat of a new UK law that could be used against press photographers taking pictures of the police.

The Counter Terrorism Act allows for the arrest and imprisonment of anyone whose pictures are “likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism”.

The union is joining with campaigners to organise a mass picture taking session outside London’s police HQ on Monday 16 February – the day the act becomes law.

Mark – who uses his comedy act to expose state and corporate wrongdoing – will be joined outside New Scotland Yard by renowned documentary-maker Chris Atkins, NUJ vice-president Pete Murray and a bevy of photographers.

Photojournalist and NUJ member Marc Vallée said: “The plan is simple, turn up with your camera and exercise your democratic right to take a photograph in a public place.”

There have already been cases of photographers stopped from working by police quoting anti-terror laws.

John Toner, the NUJ’s organiser who looks after freelance photographers, said: “Police officers are in news pictures at all sorts of events – football matches, carnivals, state processions – so the union wants to make it clear that taking their pictures is not the act of a criminal.

“Our members are photographers – not terrorists.”

Roy Mincoff, NUJ Legal Officer, said: “Photographers do not want to endanger the health and safety of the police or the public – but it is important in a democracy that they can do their jobs properly without facing unnecessary legal restrictions.”

The photo taking will start at 11am outside New Scotland Yard on Broadway, London.