Our British legal brothers are speculating that the Counter-Terrorism Act of 2008, poised to become law on February 16, 2009, may make it significantly easier for police officers to stop photographers from taking pictures in public places.  

Section 76 entitled “Offences relating to information about members of armed forces etc” is the section in question, and reads, in part:

(1) A person commits an offence who—
    (a) elicits or attempts to elicit information about an individual who is or has been–
        (i) a member of Her Majesty’s forces,
        (ii) a member of any of the intelligence services, or
        (iii) a constable
    which is of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism or
    (b) publishes or communicates any such information

The full text of the bill can be read here.

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