Taking pictures of a crime

thesocial

I wonder would anyone have some info on this...

I saw children breaking into a building didn't know them and took photo of them. I then rang the Garda and told them they were in site. 30 mins later they came out and I rang back Garda to tell them they were gone but that I had a photo of them climbing out.

Guess what! I got the wrap on my knuckles for taking the photo and was told I should delete it.

What exactly is the law regarding images of children when they are breaking the law -surely privacy law doesn't come into it or publishing since I wasn't actually going in to print it.

And just out of interest I was also told by the Garda that they were very busy to which I responded - you are meant to be!

Do you think this is the case???

Thanks

biko

This is probably a legal discussion but afaik there is nothing wrong with taking pics of anything in public.
It's not up to the guards to decide whether you were in the wrong in this case, it's up to the public prosecutor and a court.
The guards might arrest you on suspicion of wrong-doing but someone else decides.

M2C - keep the pics but don't publish them. If the guards ask for public assistance in solving the burglary you can send them the images.

Zulu

You might be allowed to take pictures of a public place, but you are NOT (AFAIK) allowed to take pictures of minors without their parents/guardians expressed permission. For, what I'd have thought were obvious reasons.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

GhostInTheRuins

Zulu wrote: »

you are NOT (AFAIK) allowed to take pictures of minors without their parents/guardians expressed permission. For, what I'd have thought were obvious reasons.

That's not true at all.

Milk & Honey

thesocial wrote: »

I wonder would anyone have some info on this...

I saw children breaking into a building didn't know them and took photo of them. I then rang the Garda and told them they were in site. 30 mins later they came out and I rang back Garda to tell them they were gone but that I had a photo of them climbing out.

Guess what! I got the wrap on my knuckles for taking the photo and was told I should delete it.

What exactly is the law regarding images of children when they are breaking the law -surely privacy law doesn't come into it or publishing since I wasn't actually going in to print it.

And just out of interest I was also told by the Garda that they were very busy to which I responded - you are meant to be!

Do you think this is the case???

Thanks

Laziness from the Guards.

Procrastastudy

Absolutely as M & H said - this will be the guards going - oh s*** now we might actually have to go an find these kids!

On the whole I have a lot of respect for the Gardai - but when it comes to people reporting crime they really are just plain lazy.

Paulw

Zulu wrote: »

You might be allowed to take pictures of a public place, but you are NOT (AFAIK) allowed to take pictures of minors without their parents/guardians expressed permission. For, what I'd have thought were obvious reasons.

Totally incorrect. There is no special protection for minors in that regard. You can take pictures of anyone - minor or adult, in a public place. You do not need permission.

Jowls

Paulw wrote: »

Totally incorrect. There is no special protection for minors in that regard. You can take pictures of anyone - minor or adult, in a public place. You do not need permission.

Also totally incorrect. Its much more complicated than that. See Peck, Von Hannover, Hickey, etc.

I think the Gardai are wrong here though. Privacy doesnt apply to protect criminal behaviour. It does sound more like laziness.

Paulw

Jowls wrote: »

Also totally incorrect. Its much more complicated than that. See Peck, Von Hannover, Hickey, etc.

Those seem much more to do with the usage of the images, rather than the legality of the taking of the images.

biko

I've been at theatres etc where minors have been actors and we've then been asked to refrain from photography because of "Child Protection Policy". But I think this is only a request and not actual law.

Some info http://www.digitalrights.ie/2006/05/09/photographers-rights/

MagicSean

When you say it was children breaking into a building do you mean a burglary or was it some old disused building? If they were committing a crime then the Garda was wrong. If they were just playing in a way you didn't like then you were wrong.

thesocial

Interesting replies thanks guys and magicsean you are right but I don't think breaking into a locked premises should ever be considered a form of playing.

tricky D

biko wrote: »

I've been at theatres etc where minors have been actors and we've then been asked to refrain from photography because of "Child Protection Policy". But I think this is only a request and not actual law.

Some info http://www.digitalrights.ie/2006/05/09/photographers-rights/

The theatre is not quite a public place compared to the street, so that policy is likely to be fine.

The_Snapper

thesocial wrote: »

I wonder would anyone have some info on this...

I saw children breaking into a building didn't know them and took photo of them. I then rang the Garda and told them they were in site. 30 mins later they came out and I rang back Garda to tell them they were gone but that I had a photo of them climbing out.

Guess what! I got the wrap on my knuckles for taking the photo and was told I should delete it.

What exactly is the law regarding images of children when they are breaking the law -surely privacy law doesn't come into it or publishing since I wasn't actually going in to print it.

And just out of interest I was also told by the Garda that they were very busy to which I responded - you are meant to be!

Do you think this is the case???

Thanks

Nothing wrong in what you did. The only problem is you leave yourself open to having your camera/phone seized as evidence, if the police had acted accordingly & correctly.

It appears to be laziness on their part & this type of behavior doesn't encourage the public to be vigilant. Around my area the police are generally very good but there are some seriously lazy ones as well.

Well done for your actions.

Victor

biko wrote: »

I've been at theatres etc where minors have been actors and we've then been asked to refrain from photography because of "Child Protection Policy". But I think this is only a request and not actual law.

Some info http://www.digitalrights.ie/2006/05/09/photographers-rights/

In reality shows with children should have the children dressed in adequate clothing.