Do we really have to put up with this?

[toby99]

I have just returned from my daughter's school concert. she was singing and playing her recorder. I was not allowed to take photographs or film her because of Child Protection laws. I am furious - it is unbelievable that I can't even take a picture of my child singing! Have we gone mad in this country - and why do we put up with it!!!!

[Bewlay Bros]

I was just about to type when I opened your daily mail link.

There is no offence in taking photos of children or anybody. In fact you can randomly take photos of people in the street all quite legally.

However if the photos are indecent then various laws will be protecting the child (in fact under 18). So you can sleep with a 16 year old, but you can not photograph him or her (unless married)

Also there are commercial laws governing one can not receive payment from photos. That is why holiday brochures only use models on its shots nowadays.

[katangel26]

My daughter is having a Nativity play this coming friday and they've said if anyone objects to their childs photo being taken then they've got to speak to one of the supervisors, I hope no-one does because I want to take pictures of my daughter on stage in her Angel outfit! At my sons primary school play last year, we were only allowed to take photo's at the end of the play (!) when they were sitting on the floor! Yet at sports day this year we were allowed to take as many pictures and camcorder shots as we liked, makes no sense. Ridiculous! I'm more annoyed this year that his school has done away completely with any play at all, they're not even doing anything to do with christmas! Grrrr lol.

[adamhornsby]

Oh my god (I bet we cant even say this without getting locked up). I agree with you Toby, this is rediculous. Not susprisingly we are under Labour as a government.
They are ridiculous anyway, Gordon Brown can stick up a bus shelter and call it a university.

[Drisgirl]

Its seriously not ridiculous when it was introduced to protect children as I said before.
Luckily it looks like none of us are in the situation where we dont want A.N Other to find out where our child is.
It has happened-and it could undoubtably lead to children being abducted -thus the protection being introduced.
I agree however that so long as each parent states they have no objection then thats good.
Its sad -but at the end of the day every child must be proferred the same protection

[Quoi]

Surely between all the teachers and parents attending any pervert would be spotted? This takes a way so much for so little risk

[Lucy Thomas]

The headteacher in my children's primary school used a good tactic to get around this one. Before the start of the play he would announce, "if there is anyone who objects to photography can thay please say so before we start".

Obviously nobody was stupid enough to say so even if they wanted to. It worked every time.

[pingu97]

My daughters nativity play is next week, and although we arent allowed to take pictures DVD's will be made of it(professionally) and parents have the option to have their child edited out of it (which i wont be doing!) and cost 3 quid a go which i'm really happy with, i agree with what your saying it's crazy!
We went to holiday park last year and a friend who's a professional photographer was asked to stop taking photos of our kids at the swimming pool, even though they were at the side of the pool with no other children in the pool anyway!

[Drisgirl]

Its NOT all to to do with perverts.

Its all about your child being abducted by a violent ex (for example| -when you have been put in a place of safety out his/her reach and he/she sees his/her child in the paper and lo and behold the school are at fault -well lets face it they would be if it were your child.

[toby99]

We are talking about taking pictures of our children in their school plays - capturing memories that we can never get back. Anyway by the looks of it, it is not illegal and it is the schools who have got it wrong and misinterpreted the Act. I certainly won't be putting down my camera next year no matter what they say to me.

I have just seen a picture of my daughter in the local newspaper singing with the choir - I didn't give permission-Why is that ok when I apparently can't take a photo?

[Drisgirl]

toby -I agree believe it or not with you all -I worked at a school for a few years when this legislation was brought in and those was the reasons we were given.
I did say that it has been relaxed to a certain point but parents permission is still needed for a pic -say of the netball team -to be published -well certainly in Perthshire.
Its bloody sad that it has to come to this but there was a reason that this was implemented and that is the world we sadly live in today.
Just an addendum -we never had nativity plays -the children put on a little concert -isnt that strange.(O still brought a lump to my throat like)
Now that has only now just got me wondering -I just assumed they were outdated -even although I personally am not a believer I wouldnt have stopped the kids having a bit fun.

[Drisgirl]

OMG -is Lucy Thomas about -I made a major grammatical faux pas there -lol

Its the wine -i tell ya -the wine !!!

[Lucy Thomas]

Then I'll let you off this time.

[FUZZYBEE]

My daughters primary school have sent a letter round saying if you don't wish your child to be photographed/filmed then that child must be removed from the production but please first think of the consequences that may have on your child being excluded.

[toby99]

Pippa68 - - This is going on at many schools over the country - just google and you can read articles for all I mentioned - however, common sence does appear to be returning in some areas!


http://homepage.ntlworld.com/watson-jones/alph abet/blackboard.html


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles /news/news.html?in_article_id=379114&in_page_i d=1770&in_page_id=1770&expand=true


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4697461.s tm


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/3 039553.stm

[toby99]

What would a pervert want with a video or photo of a group of kids, in uniform, singing in a church. I am sorry, good intentions or not, it is parents who are missing out on those cherished memories. It is political madness; they should be focusing on other areas to try and catch these monsters.

It was mentioned earlier that it caused problems for fostered children attending schools and their parents finding out. I am afraid that is up to the fosterer and the school to liaise better to avoid this happening.