In the UK, The Home Secretary has authorized restrictions on photography. While there are no legal restrictions on photography in public places, local police are allowed to restrict or monitor photography in certain places.

This is of course just a play on words. By “no legal restriction” what is really meant is that no specific legislation has been passed. Yet because the local police are empowered to enact restrictions, then the restrictions do exist –perhaps not fully formalized and codified but it’s there nonetheless. Indeed, the Home Secretary adds that “decisions may be made locally to restrict or monitor photography in reasonable circumstances. That is an operational decision for the officers involved based on the individual circumstances of each situation.” (And I bet that these restrictions tend to be imposed on photographing government activities.)

And finally, for those who believe that the state should be trusted to manage (and “balance”) our rights, I leave you with this gem:

“It is for the local Chief Constable … to decide how his or her Officers and employees should best balance the rights to freedom of the press, freedom of expression and the need for public protection.”

(This only emphasizes the need to eliminate socialist roads and other government spaces.)

The Best of Manuel Lora