What can 'Security' do if you are taking photos when THEY don't think you should?

Be stopped many times taking photos in a public place. But even say in a shopping mall what can they do? Can they take the camera, arrest you etc. I stop when asked as I can always go back some other time. I plan to carry a recorder in future so if the situation gets out of hand and they assalt me I will have evidence. I take photos of shops and artwork avoiding people were I can. I need to know what powers these 'security' people have. The police in general leave me alone

I am in the UK

You are allowed to take photographs in a public place.

Under the law it is called an EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY.

There is no expectation of privacy in a public mall, however, the owners of the mall have a right to refuse letting you take photos there because the mall is private property. You are on their property, even though it is open to the public.

If you were in a public park or on a sidewalk, there is no expectation of privacy and you could take photos of anything you wanted, but anyone who can be identified in a photo would have to sign a release granting you permission to use the photo if you were going to make money from it. However, if you are on a public sidewalk, you could not take photos of someone through their window. You could however take photos of someone in their back yard if you were standing on the sidewalk. There are many good books on this subject and if you are interested in photography you should check some books out of the library to find out what your legal rights are under various situations.

they can chop you

Be careful. These days if you are in the United States, they may shoot you and call you a terrorist!

A Shopping Mall is NOT a public place, it's private property and they can ask you to leave, confiscate your pictures, etc.

legally nothing but the reality is they can do whatever they are big enough to do

Why provoke them? If they say you are not allowed to take pictures them so be it!

Why are you taking so many pic's of public places? Yes, they can take your camera, pictures and arrest you if they think you are a threat to the security of the building you are taking pic's of. You have to understand that your behavior is suspicious and that their job is to protect the building and the public using it, if you are doing this as an art project or just for your own enjoyment then you will understand and not mind if they ask to see identification and you will honor their request that you not take pictures when they ask you to....bottom line your personal enjoyment should not supersede the rights and security of others.

Well it basically depends on "Where" "Whose" you are taking the photos, if its just a public place and a normal person, not a big deal what they can do is just destroy the Photos, nothing much, but if its a secured area then things can get a bit nasty, and i mean real nasty anything else buzz me....

Security personnel have the same powers to arrest as any citizen.You can be escorted out and charged with harrassment. Normally if they are that seroius,the police will be called.Peace.

The easiest thing to do to avoid problems is to go to the shopping mall office and explain that you're there taking pictures for.....a school project...because you're a tourist...you're interested in the architecture...and ask if it's okay. Offer a business card, or to show them ID.

Most of the time, they won't care. If they do, you may have the right, but they'll probably have you removed as a "nuisance".

Well, I'm not sure about the UK, but in the US you can take photos in a public place. If you are in a private place, like a mall or a store, then they are within their rights to deny you photographic access, as you could be "casing" the place for future harm.

I work in the storage industry and we often have to bar people access from the actual storage units when they bring in cameras and videos. We do this to protect not only ourselves but also other peoples property.

Just a few thoughts for you...

Hi Joe... in the UK, the security of the shopping centre act on behalf of the owner of said centre. They are well within their rights to ask you to leave for no reason at all. They shouldn't be taking your camera from you or detaining you, unless they genuinely believe you are doing something that is illegal, in which case, as previously mentioned, they have the same powers of arrest as any member of public does. This applies to any privately owned premis, whether a pub, club, shop, etc. etc. If they don't want you in there (and they don't have to have a reason), you must leave, or have your collar felt once the inevitable call to the Police has been made.