Jules Mattson was detained by UK police for doing nothing other than taking a photograph. When he repeatedly asked what law he was being detained under, the police’s story kept changing, from being a nuisance to a threat under the terrorism act.

According an audio recording of the incident, the police officer argued, at first, that it was illegal to take photographs of children, before adding that it was illegal to take images of army members, and, finally, of police officers. When asked under what legislation powers he was being stopped, the police officer said that Mattsson presented a threat under anti-terrorism laws. The photographer was pushed down on stairs and detained until the end of the parade and after the intervention of three other photographers.

Apparently, these police still haven’t gotten the memo that members of the public can take photographs in public places. It’s especially distasteful, given the fact that the Met just had to pay damages to two photographers for a similar incident.

Members of the public and the media do not need a permit to film or photograph in public places and police have no power to stop them filming or photographing incidents or police personnel.