Council leader's St Stephen's row
City council leader Carl Minns is locked in a row with St Stephen's after he was stopped from taking photographs – and then got a visit from police.
Although unhappy over the incident, Cllr Minns said he was more annoyed by the centre's decision to refer his details to the police without telling him.
The Liberal Democrat leader, who has been told he will not face any charges, met with a senior police officer earlier this week to discuss what he described as "wider policy issues" relating to the incident.
But he has yet to receive any reply to his original complaint from St Stephen's.
Cllr Minns said: "I had just bought a new camera and was trying it out on my way home when I was approached by a security guard.
"I was standing next to the news kiosk outside St. Stephen's at the time.
"The guard was very polite and professional but he still told me I couldn't take any photographs because it was private property."
Cllr Minns said he subsequently e-mailed a complaint to the shopping centre's management, raising concerns over similar incidents involving members of the public and the potential impact on the image of the city if tourists were also being prevented from taking photographs.
"The next thing I knew was after last week's full council meeting when I got a message that the police wanted to speak to me about an incident outside St Stephen's.
"I'm perfectly happy with the way the police dealt with this but I am still annoyed that St. Stephen's felt it was quite in order to forward my complaint straight to the police."
He said the police had told him St. Stephen's followed guidance laid down by the National Counter Terrorism Security Office which advises shopping centres to look out for people taking pictures or sketches of their security measures.
St Stephen's spokeswoman Kate Mason said: "It is unforgivable that no-one got back to Mr Minns sooner, which we are now in the process of doing.
"The extra vigilance regarding photography is an unfortunate sign of the times in which we live and is standard practice across most public venues, especially shopping centres.
"I think it is important we reassure our customers we are not in the habit of passing on complaints to the police, or any other third party.
"We wanted to provide an in-depth explanation to Mr Minns as to why he had been asked not to take photos but our well-intended plan backfired and we are very sorry."
75 Comments
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by james, newland
Saturday, August 15 2009, 6:37AM
“In my line of work I photograph buildings regularly. The law is clear; if a building can be seen from a public right of way (regardless whether or not that public right of way crosses private property) it is classed as part of the streetscape and no restrictions can be applied. However if the photos are going to be published, all brand logos on the building should be hidden. Therefore I suggest that from now on, all the photographs of St Stephens in the press have the St Stephens, Next, Tescos and Holiday Inn logo pixelated.
Or better still, lets just not have any more pictures of Hull's ugliest building in the press as an example of good architecture because it just isn't. It's like the emporers new clothes, everybody I know thinks its a big bland grey box that only has one slighltly redeeming feature; the glass roof. A roof that can only be seen when you are LEAVING Hull on the train to go shopping in York or Leeds perhaps.
So in short if you have to photograph white elephants and you get arrested outside St Stephens, it will get laughed out of court. Or you could just photograph Hull's better looking buildings.”
by laughing at st stephens, newland
Saturday, August 15 2009, 6:24AM
“In my line of work I have to photograph buildings on a regular basis so I am very aware of the legal implications. There aren't many.
The law is very clear: if you are photographing part of the streetscape on a public right of way (even if this public right of way crosses private property) no restrictions can be applied.
However if the images are to be published you should blur out any logos that can be seen. So I suggest that from now on every time a photo of St Stephens is published the St Stephens logo, Next and Tesco's are all pixelated, that should keep them happy.
Or better still lets have no photographs Hull's ugliest building in the press because we are told far far too often how attractive it is, but it's like the emporers new clothes. Everybody really thinks its just a big grey box for tescos with a silly wavy roof that you can only see when you are LEAVING Hull on the train. Perhaps this is why they don't like people photographing the building; somebody might say " hang on a minute, that is actually quite ugly".
So in short, if you have to photograph a white elephant, St Stephens haven't got any control over you and if you do get arrested, it would get laughed out of court.”
by Daisy, Hull
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 10:38PM
“So where were you all at 2pm on Sunday 9th August then? I turned up out of curiosity at st stephens but didn't see any flashmob...”
by Norman, Hull
Wednesday, August 05 2009, 3:35PM
“St.Stephens,obviously. Memo to self take more water with it!”
by Norman, Hull
Wednesday, August 05 2009, 3:33PM
“I would have thought that any "terrorist" intent on blowing up any building in this City would have more photographs of these places that they can handle. They probably have every stage of the building of St.Stepehens to hand !”