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Photography in public places in the UK: your rights and their limits

In the UK you do not need a permit to photograph or film in public places, and police have no power to stop the filming or photographing of incidents or police officers. Limits come from privacy law, data protection, harassment and public order law, terrorism legislation in narrow cases, and the rules of private property owners.

This guide summarises what photographers, videographers and reporters need to know – with sources from police guidance and legislation. It is general information, not legal advice.

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At a glance

Permit needed in public?: No (Metropolitan Police)
Filming police: Police have no power to stop it (College of Policing)
Deleting images: Not without a court order
Private property: Owner sets the rules
Privacy: Reasonable expectation of privacy is protected by the courts

Photographing in public spaces

The Metropolitan Police states that members of the public and the media do not need a permit to film or photograph in public places, and that police have no power to stop them filming or photographing incidents or police personnel. The College of Policing guidance on police and the media adds that once an image has been recorded, police have no power to seize equipment or delete or confiscate images or footage without a court order. A press card is not required to rely on these principles – they apply to everyone.

Police powers you should know

Stop and search (s.43 Terrorism Act 2000)

Officers who reasonably suspect someone of being a terrorist may stop and search them and view images to find evidence. According to the Met, they do not have the power to delete images or destroy film during such a search. The former section 44 power no longer exists.

Section 58A Terrorism Act 2000

Section 58A concerns eliciting, publishing or communicating information about members of the armed forces, intelligence services or police that is likely to be useful to terrorists. The Met says it would ordinarily be unlawful to use it to arrest people photographing officers during normal policing activities, including protests.

Privacy and data protection

The UK has no general “image right”, but courts protect people against the misuse of private information where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy – for example in medical settings, at home or in intimate moments, even if photographed from a public place. The Supreme Court’s decision in Bloomberg v ZXC (2022) is a recent leading case on this tort. Data protection law also applies to images of identifiable people; the journalism exemption in the Data Protection Act 2018 (Schedule 2, Part 5) applies where you reasonably believe publication is in the public interest. The IPSO Editors’ Code sets additional standards for publications that are regulated by IPSO, including special care with children.

Private property and quasi-public spaces

Shopping centres, railway stations, stadiums, venues and private estates may look public but are often private land. Owners can set rules on photography and ask you to stop or leave; they cannot, however, force you to delete images. Freedom of panorama under section 62 CDPA covers copyright in buildings and public sculptures, not access rights – see freedom of panorama.

Drones

Drone flights are regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority. You generally need a Flyer ID or Operator ID, must keep to the maximum height of 120 metres and keep a safe distance from people, and must follow the Drone Code. Special rules apply near airports and in restricted airspace. A press card does not exempt you from any of these rules.

Good practice for photographers

Be open about what you are doing; explain your purpose if asked
Carry ID – a press card helps identify you quickly
Stay calm, polite and out of the way of emergency services

Note officers’ numbers if you believe your rights are not respected
Back up images straight away
Think about consequences before publishing faces of children or vulnerable people

When someone challenges you

Most confrontations about photography can be calmed down in a minute.

Stay calm and polite

Lower the camera, introduce yourself and explain what you are working on. Many people simply want to know who you are and why you are taking pictures.

Explain, do not lecture

Briefly say that you are photographing in a public place for publication. Avoid arguing about the law on the spot – it rarely helps.

Offer an alternative

If someone does not want to be identifiable, consider whether you can frame the shot differently or blur them later. It often costs you nothing.

Know when to leave

If a situation escalates, your safety comes first. Move away, note what happened and report it to your editor if needed.

Photographing children and vulnerable people

The law and the codes ask for extra care here.

There is no general ban on photographing children in public places, but publishing their images raises questions of privacy and welfare. The Editors’ Code and other industry codes contain specific rules on children and on people in vulnerable situations, for example in hospital or after an accident – see our guide to journalism ethics.

Ask parents or carers for consent where children are the focus of a picture.
Avoid images that could identify children in sensitive contexts.
Think twice before publishing pictures of people in distress, and consider whether the story can be told without them.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to take photos of people in public in the UK?

Generally yes. There is no general image right, but privacy, data protection and harassment law can restrict how you take or publish images.

Can police make me delete photos?

No. The College of Policing guidance states that police have no power to delete images or footage without a court order.

Can I film police officers?

Yes. Police guidance says officers have no power to stop the filming or photographing of incidents or police personnel.

Do I need permission to photograph a building?

Not for copyright purposes if it is a building permanently in a public place (s.62 CDPA). Private land owners can still set rules on their premises.

Can security guards stop me photographing?

On private property, owners and their staff can ask you to stop or leave. They cannot lawfully take your camera or force you to delete images.

Do I need a press card to photograph in public?

No. The rules apply to everyone. A press card simply helps you identify yourself as a journalist.

Can a shop or shopping centre stop me photographing?

Yes, on its own property. Shopping centres, stations and other private spaces can set rules for photography as a condition of entry and ask you to stop or leave. From the public street, the situation is different.

Sources and last review

Last reviewed: October 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.