Taking piktures of floods is now a crime

[Sleepyman]

拍淹水照片　《联合晚报》主任被上手铐扣留1小时

 

吴庆顺（左）的右手在手铐铐解后还留下红色印记；右图为铐上记者手铐的执勤警员。

 

为了拍一张照片，《联合晚报》资深摄影主任竟然被当成犯人般铐上手铐！

 

全岛今天凌晨一场豪雨，导致多个地区淹水。《联合晚报》摄影主任吴庆顺，赶往受影响地方拍摄时，在武吉知马路上段，申诉被警员被铐上手铐，在场扣留了一个小时，不获准离开。

 

武吉知马路上段今早淹水，有车辆被冲上路堤，吴庆顺早上7时许到场拍下现场情形。他为了取得更好的角度，上前要拍摄其中一辆受困水中的车子时，被一名警员阻拦。

 

吴庆顺说，警员叫他走开，他礼貌要求再拍一张照片，谁知话刚说完，警员已经将手铐掏出来，将他的右手牢牢铐起，还说要带他到警署。

 

吴庆顺说：

[Sleepyman]

Translation from TR:

 

Mr Wu, a senior photographer with LianHeWanBao who went to the scene of flooding at Upper Bukit Timah Road to take pictures of the flood ended up being handcuffed by a Policeman and detained without reasonable cause for over an hour.

 

Singapore experienced a heavy downpour early saturday morning which caused flooding in Braddell Road, Changi Road, Joo Chiat, Telok Kurau, Geylang and Bukit Timah.

 

According to Mr Wu, he was at Upper Bukit Timah Road around 7am taking pictures of a car that had been swept onto the road kerb. When he wanted to venture further for more pictures of other cars that were stranded in the knee deep water, a Policeman who was seated in a Police Car nearby put on his rain coat and approached him.

 

The Policeman asked Mr Wu to leave the scene but Mr Wu politely requested that he be allowed to take a few more pictures. Without any warning, the Policeman took out his handcuff and cuffed Mr Wu

[Daniel3]

Hi All,

 

Are we turning into a police state where we can be handcuffed without valid reason???

[Csnewbie]

Taking photos of floods is a detainable crime? That can"t be.

[Kopites]

despciable shameful MIB...making our nation as "handcuff" country. SHAME SHAME SHAME ON YOUR MIW !

[Renegade777]

Hi All,

 

Are we turning into a police state where we can be handcuffed without valid reason???

 

And then there are people being beaten up and Police not arresting the culprit at the scene. What is happening ....?

 

 

[Skunk]

We don't even know the exact circumstances and reasons, straightaway many side the photographer and deride police actions. I believe he was handcuffed and led away, for not following police orders. The policeman should have given reasons, even though he did not need to.

 

Possible reasons are many, we can only speculate....danger of water level rising, he might be obstructing work or traffic, or he might have been deemed a "public nuisance" (we don't know what else was done or said)....there are so many reasons why a police officer would want to chase someone away from the scene of an accident/disaster. And if the person doesn't want to comply, too bad, he has to be led away in a handcuff.

 

For those who still side the photographer, maybe next time there's a traffic accident, stop at the road shoulder and take photos of the wreck/victim and see if the cops have any good reason to chase u away? lol

[Mockngbrd]

f--king cops... PUI

[Skunk]

And then there are people being beaten up and Police not arresting the culprit at the scene. What is happening ....?

 

inefficient police force lor :(

[Sleepyman]

We don't even know the exact circumstances and reasons, straightaway many side the photographer and deride police actions. I believe he was handcuffed and led away, for not following police orders. The policeman should have given reasons, even though he did not need to.

 

Possible reasons are many, we can only speculate....danger of water level rising, he might be obstructing work or traffic, or he might have been deemed a "public nuisance" (we don't know what else was done or said)....there are so many reasons why a police officer would want to chase someone away from the scene of an accident/disaster. And if the person doesn't want to comply, too bad, he has to be led away in a handcuff.

 

For those who still side the photographer, maybe next time there's a traffic accident, stop at the road shoulder and take photos of the wreck/victim and see if the cops have any good reason to chase u away? lol

 

Without any warning, the Policeman took out his handcuff and cuffed Mr Wu

[Skunk]

Without any warning, the Policeman took out his handcuff and cuffed Mr Wu

[Mockngbrd]

its f--ked up treatment.... SG polis really useless

[Kopites]

Without any warning, the Policeman took out his handcuff and cuffed Mr Wu

[Requiemdk]

possible. He could have pulled the guy by the arm, instead of the handcuff, that would have been unnecessary hurt. Too bad, poor police training lol

 

Actually, the SOP is to give a clear warning first before taking such action. If the police did not do that, he could very well get into trouble with his superior once a complaint is lodged. They're definitely not supposed to anyhow handcuff people as and when they feel like it, no matter what story you can cook up from the police's point of view.

[Skunk]

its f--ked up treatment.... SG polis really useless

 

yes, but what has that got to do with the title of the thread? hehe.

 

I'm of the view that if the police orders that no pics be taken / or the person should leave the scene, it should be obeyed. I think police in most countries have the right to order citizens to do so.

 

However, he should not have pulled the guy by the handcuff....just pull by the arm. Also, it would have been good if he bothered giving the reason....like safety or security or whatever....

[Assaxefour]

Consider LKY once said he will use the army if they are voted out of power due to "freak result", this is nothing.

[Hasegawa]

Don't believe what you read in the tabloid too readily.... everyone has their own agenda and so does Mr. Wu... :D

Edited July 18, 2010 by Hasegawa

[Skunk]

Actually, the SOP is to give a clear warning first before taking such action. If the police did not do that, he could very well get into trouble with his superior once a complaint is lodged. They're definitely not supposed to anyhow handcuff people as and when they feel like it, no matter what story you can cook up from the police's point of view.

 

I'm not a cop...are/were you one? It would be interesting to hear the "official" version. The thing is, I think he must have disobeyed orders to leave. Just the simple reason of "danger from floodwaters" would have sufficed, whether that is true or not lol