AP reader embroiled in street photo row
KEEN amateur Rob Kuhner recently got more than he bargained for when he tried to bag some images for Maidenhead Camera Club’s street photography competition. After taking some shots of three women taking a selfie of themselves, Rob was challenged by their brother. ‘I gently reminded him of the law and my rights to take the photograph in a public place, but things did not stop there,’ Rob explains. ‘ The guy and his sisters pursued me as I caught the tube to Paddington!’ On arrival at Paddington, the quartet asked for help and Rob claims he was apprehended by two members of staff who refused to let him proceed until the issue was resolved. Despite Googling his rights and showing the staff members five different websites to back it up, they insisted that the images be deleted off Rob’s camera. Suggestions that they radio for guidance on the matter were met with ‘we know our job, thank you’. Rob explains, ‘I asked for the British Transport Police to come and sort the matter out. Once they arrived and had spoken to everyone, they confirmed that I had not broken any law, had taken the images lawfully and that the staff members had no right to try to censor me by forcing me to delete the images. I lost the images though and missed three trains home.’
Rob is now trying to ascertain who the staff members worked for, so he can make a complaint. Network Rail has confirmed to AP that they were not its staff after examining the CCTV footage, so Rob has now contacted Transport for London. We will pass on any more updates as we get them.