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Betty, 82, and Brenda, 69, told off for taking pool snaps
2:13pm Wednesday 23rd July 2008
By Ash Bolton »
IT may look like an innocent photograph of a deserted paddling pool in the middle of Southampton Com-mon.
But this seemingly harmless picture is one that Southampton City Council tried to ban two elderly ladies from taking.
Pensioners Betty Robinson and Brenda Bennett were enjoying their hobby snapping scenes of the city's historic common.
However, as soon as they pointed their lenses at the empty fenced off paddling pool, they ended up in hot water.
The two widows could not believe it when a council worker ordered them to stop taking photos of the pool.
Betty, who has been taking photos at the park for decades, said: "It's absolutely ridiculous. After asking why we couldn't take photos she told us those were the rules. It's pathetic - bureaucracy gone mad."
No children The 82-year-old added: "I said is it because we might be paedophiles? There were no children in the pool but she pointed to a man and boys in the distance and said we could come back later at 6pm when the park was closed.
"We are just a couple of old ladies who wouldn't hurt children and we are certainly not paedophiles. I couldn't even see the children she was referring to in the distance."
The former BHS employee added: "There's no actual law about preventing us from taking photographs. We have been coming down here for years taking pictures and just thought the paddling pool looked attractive."
Brenda, 69, who used to work for the city council herself as an evaluation officer and is now a volunteer driver for the Southampton Society for the Blind, said: "It's just over the top that we can't even take a picture in our local park. It's our hobby to take pictures on days out and on holiday together.
"There were some odd things that went on at the council when I work there but nothing as daft as this."
City council bosses have said sorry to the two women and issued new guidelines.
Mike Harris, head of leisure and culture, said staff will now be briefed about using their discretion when they see people taking photos on the Common.
He said: "I'm sorry if we have caused any offence on this occasion. We have to walk a fine line between protecting the children who use this popular paddling pool and the interests of the community as a whole.
"A lot of people are more concerned about the safety of their children these days so it is appropriate that our staff are aware of who is taking photos."
Your Say YourEcho
Jakey McSpence, The Park says...
2:45pm Wed 23 Jul 08
George Crocker, Southampton says...
2:55pm Wed 23 Jul 08
hulla, baloo says...
2:58pm Wed 23 Jul 08
This is obviously council speak for "our worker messed up"
Is a requirement to be a council worker to be brain dead and lacking common sense?
General Malaise, Nearby says...
3:00pm Wed 23 Jul 08
If it's a case of protecting people's privacy then surely CCTV cameras breach this by capturing the image of millions of people without their permission - are CCTV cameras (or the images they take) therefore illegal ?
hulla, baloo says...
3:15pm Wed 23 Jul 08
General Malaise wrote:I think, though I stand to be corrected, that CCTV cameras come under crime prevention, and therefore different rules.
I didn't think there was any law preventing people taking photographs in a public place. If it's a case of protecting people's privacy then surely CCTV cameras breach this by capturing the image of millions of people without their permission - are CCTV cameras (or the images they take) therefore illegal ?
Just Wondering, says...
3:23pm Wed 23 Jul 08
hulla wrote:Do CCTV actually prevent crimes from being committed?
General Malaise wrote: I didn't think there was any law preventing people taking photographs in a public place. If it's a case of protecting people's privacy then surely CCTV cameras breach this by capturing the image of millions of people without their permission - are CCTV cameras (or the images they take) therefore illegal ?I think, though I stand to be corrected, that CCTV cameras come under crime prevention, and therefore different rules.
Family Man, Bitterne says...
3:29pm Wed 23 Jul 08
If taking a photograph of a deserted pool is taking a fine line between child protection and community interests, then parhaps he could tell me what is a "yawning gap"!!!
Perhaps he should also come clean and admit "Mr jobsworth" was, as is all too often the case with local government employees, acting without the slightest bit of common sense and abusing the little bit of authority he has!You only have to look at the way that local authorities abuse their powers in respect of surveillance, and the way their employees lack any sense of the pragmatic when it comes to enforcement of parking etc. to realise that.
It is well nigh time that the state, particularly in respect of local authorties, had their wings severely clipped, and remember that they are their to serve the public!
Nutstrangler, says...
3:34pm Wed 23 Jul 08
hulla wrote:This may well be true, but there is still no law against taking photographs in a public place. How about all the photos of young children and babies that are frequently printed in the "Echo"? Or do paedos not read the paper?
General Malaise wrote: I didn't think there was any law preventing people taking photographs in a public place. If it's a case of protecting people's privacy then surely CCTV cameras breach this by capturing the image of millions of people without their permission - are CCTV cameras (or the images they take) therefore illegal ?I think, though I stand to be corrected, that CCTV cameras come under crime prevention, and therefore different rules.
hulla, baloo says...
3:37pm Wed 23 Jul 08
Just Wondering wrote:Supposed to act as a deterrent, hence prevention, but I do not think they do.
hulla wrote:Do CCTV actually prevent crimes from being committed?General Malaise wrote: I didn't think there was any law preventing people taking photographs in a public place. If it's a case of protecting people's privacy then surely CCTV cameras breach this by capturing the image of millions of people without their permission - are CCTV cameras (or the images they take) therefore illegal ?I think, though I stand to be corrected, that CCTV cameras come under crime prevention, and therefore different rules.
Private Parts, Parade Ground says...
3:42pm Wed 23 Jul 08
General Malaise, Nearby says...
3:46pm Wed 23 Jul 08
Andrew, Brighton says...
3:48pm Wed 23 Jul 08
And being 82 is no defence. I blame the parents.
Andrew, Brighton says...
4:01pm Wed 23 Jul 08
hmmmm
Mrs. De Pointe, says...
4:05pm Wed 23 Jul 08
And here is the picture
Disgusting, how can they print such filth.
Beware, sexual stereotypes says...
4:13pm Wed 23 Jul 08
Family Man wrote:I think you'll find it was a Ms Jobsworth:
"He said: "I'm sorry if we have caused any offence on this occasion. We have to walk a fine line between protecting the children who use this popular paddling pool and the interests of the community as a whole."
If taking a photograph of a deserted pool is taking a fine line between child protection and community interests, then parhaps he could tell me what is a "yawning gap"!!!
Perhaps he should also come clean and admit "Mr jobsworth" was, as is all too often the case with local government employees, acting without the slightest bit of common sense and abusing the little bit of authority he has!You only have to look at the way that local authorities abuse their powers in respect of surveillance, and the way their employees lack any sense of the pragmatic when it comes to enforcement of parking etc. to realise that.
It is well nigh time that the state, particularly in respect of local authorties, had their wings severely clipped, and remember that they are their to serve the public!
After asking why we couldn't take photos she told us those were the rules.
Joe, says...
4:21pm Wed 23 Jul 08
We have forgotten the original meaning of it which is love of children.
There may be too many people now who are afraid to show a genuine interest for children.
Children need grown-ups for guidance, roll model etc,.
We should not feel guilty for our interests in children. So much delinquencies, is apparently, due to lack of communication between adults and children.
We all have rights and obligations. Every one should be involved in helping our society, to make it better is also our duty.
Family Man, Bitterne says...
4:23pm Wed 23 Jul 08
Beware wrote:I can only offer the excuse that I was using "Mr" in a non-gender sense, alternatively, I didn't spot that bit!
Family Man wrote: "He said: "I'm sorry if we have caused any offence on this occasion. We have to walk a fine line between protecting the children who use this popular paddling pool and the interests of the community as a whole." If taking a photograph of a deserted pool is taking a fine line between child protection and community interests, then parhaps he could tell me what is a "yawning gap"!!! Perhaps he should also come clean and admit "Mr jobsworth" was, as is all too often the case with local government employees, acting without the slightest bit of common sense and abusing the little bit of authority he has!You only have to look at the way that local authorities abuse their powers in respect of surveillance, and the way their employees lack any sense of the pragmatic when it comes to enforcement of parking etc. to realise that. It is well nigh time that the state, particularly in respect of local authorties, had their wings severely clipped, and remember that they are their to serve the public!I think you'll find it was a Ms Jobsworth:After asking why we couldn't take photos she told us those were the rules.
My apologies, but the principle of my argument remains!
Adam, says...
4:32pm Wed 23 Jul 08
Joe wrote:Can I openly call you a paedophile?
The word paedophiles has been used and misused regaularly in our time. We have forgotten the original meaning of it which is love of children. There may be too many people now who are afraid to show a genuine interest for children. Children need grown-ups for guidance, roll model etc,. We should not feel guilty for our interests in children. So much delinquencies, is apparently, due to lack of communication between adults and children. We all have rights and obligations. Every one should be involved in helping our society, to make it better is also our duty.
Iain, Lordshill says...
4:50pm Wed 23 Jul 08
Fran B, southampton says...
4:56pm Wed 23 Jul 08
Andy, Locks Heath says...
5:14pm Wed 23 Jul 08
Chris Morris wrote:Ah how spot on he was. The people who most needed to to see that programme were of course the ones who were most outraged by it, and now it's come to this.
A paedophile is caught on CCTV here, dressing as a school in a attempt to lure kids in.
Remember they come in all shapes and sizes.
Night.
I'm going to start snapping photos of every playground I pass just to try and force this nonsensical overreaction to reveal itself for what it is, and I suggest everyone does the same. And no this doesn't "make it easy for paedophiles to do the same" Anyone who thinks this isn't actually thinking at all. - what the hell has happened to us in this country? How did we ever allow these risk averse, health and safety obsessed morons to slowly infiltrate our town halls and councils?
Eastman, soton says...
5:17pm Wed 23 Jul 08
i know best, dorset says...
5:23pm Wed 23 Jul 08
the old ladies should have there camera taken away from them and also a small fine to teach them a lesson.
Darren, says...
5:26pm Wed 23 Jul 08
Chris Morris wrote:Ha Ha!
A paedophile is caught on CCTV here, dressing as a school in a attempt to lure kids in. Remember they come in all shapes and sizes. Night.
Wasn't this on Brasseye, years ago?!
ha ha ha, says...
6:14pm Wed 23 Jul 08
hulla wrote:Is a requirement to be a council worker to be brain dead and lacking common sense?
"..and issued new guidelines." This is obviously council speak for "our worker messed up" Is a requirement to be a council worker to be brain dead and lacking common sense?
no, but it is for posting on this site to judge from the intellectual standard of the comments.....
Sue, Highfield says...
6:35pm Wed 23 Jul 08
Throughout the city, cyclists are a menace and bullies but the council worker has to pick on two elderly ladies. Ridiculous council, the council worker concerned should send the ladies a bouquet of flowers for his ridiculous action.
I thought the common was for everybody to enjoy. Gradually, even our outside leisure activities are being curtailed, by council workers with no common sense.
Gilmore, Shirley, Southampton says...
7:17pm Wed 23 Jul 08
Sue wrote:Wow Sue, awesome segue into an irrelevant topic. Let's not bring up the cycling issue on this story... now that's a can of worms.
Abhorrent. Has this council worker nothing better to do? He could walk along Brookvale Road and tell off 5 men, over 6 feet tall, cycling on the pavement when there is absolutely no traffic. Plus the many others who cycle through Portswood on the pavement, even though there is a cycle path on the road outside Waitrose. Even electric cycles are using the pavement and yet the city action team do absolutely nothing. Another man told me the road was dangerous yet there was no traffic ???
Throughout the city, cyclists are a menace and bullies but the council worker has to pick on two elderly ladies. Ridiculous council, the council worker concerned should send the ladies a bouquet of flowers for his ridiculous action.
I thought the common was for everybody to enjoy. Gradually, even our outside leisure activities are being curtailed, by council workers with no common sense.
eh??, southampton says...
7:25pm Wed 23 Jul 08
Denzil, Chilworth says...
8:05pm Wed 23 Jul 08
c, says...
8:17pm Wed 23 Jul 08
Denzil wrote:Oh, shut up denzil, these are innocent elderly ladys taking some photos for gods sake!
Haven't these stupid old women got anything better to do? Maybe they should go back into work and do something useful.
hoo flung dung, southampton says...
8:29pm Wed 23 Jul 08
c wrote:come on calm down, it was all a mis-understanding!
Denzil wrote: Haven't these stupid old women got anything better to do? Maybe they should go back into work and do something useful.Oh, shut up denzil, these are innocent elderly ladys taking some photos for gods sake!
the 'S' had fallen off the old lady's Speedo's bottoms!
A Photograper, Anywhere I Like except.. says...
9:10pm Wed 23 Jul 08
- at or near military installations
- of Post Offices
- of Police Officers
Any other public place is fair game. If you disagree, arrest me and charge me, and see where that gets you.
Bus Driver, Southampton says...
9:12pm Wed 23 Jul 08
Where is these stupid laws going to end up...???
PC Dixon, Dock Green says...
9:15pm Wed 23 Jul 08
Now move along or I'll be forced to arrest you for looking at me.
P Hotograph, Lens, France says...
9:17pm Wed 23 Jul 08
Maybe pervs just need to walk around with a 'press' card sticking out of their trilby and say they are a journo and can take photo's at their leisure?
What about that CCTV operator from Hampshire who was jailed for being a perv, he was supposed to be stopping all that sort of thing by watching cameras all day, how did he slip through?
Finally, why do these CCTV operators wear a police style uniform when they are usually in a totally restricted access area, maybe it's for when Crimewatch and 'Scum on the Run' type shows turn up to film a re-enactment?
Lowe and Behold, St Marys hotseat says...
1:12am Thu 24 Jul 08
it wasn't me, Wiltshire says...
9:31am Thu 24 Jul 08
Now they have found that dude from serbia, we will find out that one of these old biddies is bin laden in drag.
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IN FOCUS: Friends Brenda Bennett and Betty Robinson, right. Echo picture by Chris Moorhouse Order no: 7043799
And here is the picture
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Chris Morris, Brass Eye HQ says...
2:43pm Wed 23 Jul 08
Remember they come in all shapes and sizes.
Night.