Sir, Unfair curbs on the right to take photographs unchallenged is not limited to railway stations (“How bin Laden killed trainspotting”, times2, July 8). Photographers across Britain have become the unwitting victims of misplaced fears about anyone carrying a camera in public.

Ironically, people using a discreet compact camera or camera phone are less likely to attract attention from police who fear such images could be used to help to plan a terror attack. It seems it is photographers carrying a large “professional looking” camera (our readership) who are more likely to be stopped by police.

We all support the authorities in their fight against terrorism but photographers feel they are being targeted by overzealous officers. There is no excuse for lack of police training. Sadly, many photographers are not aware of their basic right to take pictures in public and are resigned to their fate. On a wider level this is an infringement of civil liberties and — alarmingly — an echo of wartime Britain when, as now, our magazine moved to reassure readers that photography in public places was not banned.

We applaud Austin Mitchell’s early day motion on the topic, which has now won the backing of one in three MPs in the House of Commons.

Chris Cheesman
News editor, Amateur Photographer

Sir, In your article on the decline of trainspotting (times2, July 8) you failed to mention that the locomotive pictured was Maunsell “King Arthur” Class N15 4-6-0 Sir Lamiel, built for the Southern Railway in 1925 as number E777 by the North British Locomotive Company, and subsequently renumbered 777 by SR, and 30777 by British Railways. Before 1963 the 70D shedplate would have indicated the engine was based at Basingstoke. Sir Lamiel was withdrawn from service in 1961.

I had to look this up. No, really.

Gordon Robson
Herne Bay, Kent

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