(06/03/2016 22:33)Bevan Price Wrote:  I was once asked not to take photos in Wigan Bus Station, but told I could seek a permit to take photos on a prearranged fixed date. However there, and at many other bus stations, I find that the best location to take photos is from a public footpath outside the bus station. Bus stations themselves often have a lot of "clutter" that distracts from the bus photo. At Huyton, I prefer the public footpath between the car park & the bus station as a location for taking photos.

Technically, the operator of a bus (or railway) station can ask you not to take photos, and ask you to leave if you refuse - even if they do not actually own the land, they can be regarded as a tenant / custodian of the site, and can set rules for the site.

Note that at railway stations, you are breaking the law if you refuse to leave when asked by an authorised person. I am not sure of the legal status of bus stations, but they are probably covered by laws dealing with trespass, but it is probably wise to stop taking photos if requeated.

I was also once asked by a bus driver about taking photos - I think for some reason, he might have been concerned about being recognised. However, when I showed him that a driver inside a bus was barely visible, (in photos exposed to show the bus exterior), he became a bit more relaxed.

(06/03/2016 19:43)Lynx Wrote:  Taking photographs in a public place is not a criminal offence and is not illegal/unlawful because it is not governed by common law or statute law. Taking photos on private land is again neither illegal or unlawful and the police have no jurisdiction to act in private matters unless common law is broken. A private land owner can however bring about a private prosecution, but this would cost many thousands of pounds.

Bus stations belonging to PTEs are public land as the money they are provided with comes from central government which therefore makes any bus station operated by them public ground.

Private security or staff working at PTE bus stations have absolutely no authority to prevent you from filming and as long as you do not become aggressive or violent, and they certainly do not have any right to remove you. The same applies to police officers, who up until the point that they suspect your actions are unlawful/illegal have no jurisdiction.

(07/03/2016 12:47)wirralbus Wrote:  This is an old chestnut that keeps on regularly appearing on forums and yahoo groups .

You just hear the same things repeated in here on them groups as well , there just seems to be a mania towards security controls these days .

(07/03/2016 05:49)Mayneway Wrote:  If your asked to leave a bus station/train station are whoever is asking you to leave not required to give you a reason why?
Legally you can only be moved on if your being anti social in some way ie drunk or being verbally aggressive, simply asking you to leave what is effectively a public space for taking photos isn't to me grounds to be kicked out of somewhere.

There's a post further up the thread where someone is told to move away by a police officer from outside a bus depot. Again they only do this if your being anti social in some way.

(07/03/2016 16:47)Peterw Wrote:  You are wrong on your point about taking photos. Bus'rail stations, bus depots, retail parks are privately own places that are open to the public and the owner of the land can ask you to leave for any reason if they so wish and also make up their own rules about how their site is used. Things like the road traffic act also apply to places like supermarket car parks which are privately owned. An access road or forecourt to a depot could also be privately owned land.
One other thing to think about is that some people using a bus/rail stations may not want to be in your photo or may feel intimidated by someone pointing a camera in their direction.
Just find somewhere else to take photos, its quite simple.

(07/03/2016 16:47)Peterw Wrote:  One other thing to think about is that some people using a bus/rail stations may not want to be in your photo or may feel intimidated by someone pointing a camera in their direction.
Just find somewhere else to take photos, its quite simple.

(08/03/2016 20:56)Dentonian Wrote:  Or other more obvious crimes. I had to cross the city to Salford Royal this morning, and whilst waiting in Shudehill, I saw a young woman smoking right next to the "No Smoking" sign undercover next to K stand. A few minutes later, an older woman lit up in the same place. Now, if I'd have taken a photo of either/both of them, who do you think was more likely to be arrested?