Martin and Freddie Hogg.
Suffolk: Ipswich Town fan faces anti-terror quizzing after photographing his own son
By Matt Gaw
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
12:40 PM
YOU will not find his face on the CIA’s most wanted list and MI5 spooks are not monitoring his every move.
But that did not stop Ipswich Town staff quizzing season ticket holder and shareholder Martin Hogg as part of their anti-terror measures after he took photographs of his 14-year-old son - a ball boy at Saturday’s game.
Mr Hogg, who described the incident at Portman Road as “a complete silliness”, said he was followed back to his seat and accused of making images of the structure of the stadium.
The 58-year-old of Vinery Road, Bury St Edmunds, added: “This guy got things completely out of proportion.
“Here’s this old man taking photographs of his little boy - the ball boy - and I’m being detained under the provisions of the Terrorism Act.”
The property investor, who said he was led to a practice pitch near the East of England Love Your Co-op Stand to be questioned, said the official then asked to see his photographs.
Mr Hogg added: “I told him ‘I’ve been taking pictures of my boy Freddie. This is absolutely ludicrous, you’re not going to see my photographs’.”
The father, who pays for five season tickets joked that he “deserved a memorial, not a shake-down”.
Mick Warden, ITFC Head of Safety, said: “At the request of the police as part of anti terrorism measures nationwide, stadium staff at all grounds are advised to question anyone suspected of taking photos of stadium structures. We also have to be mindful of those from the crowd taking photos of children.
“Mr Hogg was spotted by two stewards and discreetly asked to show the stand manager the photos he had taken. Initially he refused but then relented and the stand manager was happy with the content and Mr Hogg returned to his seat.”
Mr Hogg was back in his seat to watch Ipswich defeat Leicester 1-0.
Latest News See all
- Video/gallery: Blu’s battle with epilepsy captures the hearts of Facebook users who donate £1,800 for MRI scan
- Ipswich: Woman, 55, guilty of hitting paramedic with claw hammer
- Ipswich: Man, 23, arrested on suspicion of kidnapping
- Hollesley: Renewed appeal to trace Hollesley Bay absconder John Jackson
- Suffolk: East Anglian Air Ambulance will save more lives after being granted permission to fly at night
More news
- Video/gallery: Blu’s battle with epilepsy captures the hearts of Facebook users who donate £1,800 for MRI scan
- Ipswich: Woman, 55, guilty of hitting paramedic with claw hammer
- Ipswich: Man, 23, arrested on suspicion of kidnapping
- Hollesley: Renewed appeal to trace Hollesley Bay absconder John Jackson
- Suffolk: East Anglian Air Ambulance will save more lives after being granted permission to fly at night
- Felixstowe: Catalina flying boat and Spitfire in RAF Felixstowe centenary air display
- Travel: Delays expected after plane makes emergency landing at Heathrow
- Update: Car overturns and ends up in field near Ipswich - Female driver taken to hospital
- Ipswich/Woolwich: Religious leader condemns brutal murder of Drummer Lee Rigby
- Ipswich: Man robbed of phone and wallet after alleyway assault
Suffolk Show
Education
Summer
Crime Week
Campaign
Festivals
Star Savers
Motoring
Oldest English Town
I Love Ipswich
Mr. Ipswich
James Marston
Digital edition
Read today's paper online now
Send us a story
iwitness24 Your news is our news Facebook Like your local paper Twitter Join the conversation Ipswich Borough CouncilADVERTISEMENT
13 comments
Well, I know and you know that the legislation was drafted to prevent actual terrorists from photographing sensitive installations, but in practice there's nothing quite like a night in a cell to deter amateur photographers. Police officers do a difficult enough job without people whipping out their mobile phones all the time to film videos, either for their own amusement or threatened legal action. And we have absolute discretion about how the provisions of the act can be interpreted, so such an individual may very well find himself being arrested even if he's later released.
Report this comment
PC Plod
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
PC Plod I would be careful about using that piece of legislation other than for it's actual legal purpose as you are leaving yourself and the constabulary open to potential legal suits. People are 100% allowed to video and take pictures of you and others I know it doesn't seem fair but it is their legal right to do so if they wish. See this link to the Met's guidance, they promote freedom of taking and recording images by the public in accordance with the law: http:www.met.police.ukaboutphotography.htm This guy was doing nothing wrong and it was inappropriate to use the terrorism act to deal with him because they might have heard someone else down the pub say they use it when doing a steward shift at ITFC.
Report this comment
IpswichResident
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Star Watch - that's the whole point. Genuine terrorists aren't so stupid as to start snapping pictures of important targets right in front of police officers. But it is a jolly useful piece of legislation if you want to nick some busybody who's looking for an amusing video to stick on "YouTube" for example.
Report this comment
PC Plod
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
PC Plod - I guess you are referring to Section 43. How many times have you actually found evidence that constitutes them as a terrorist. Would the answer be zero. A terrorist is someone who instils terror usually by way of violence. The government and the police do a good job of being terrorists because they are trying to instil fear from an unknown and possibly non-existent threat. Perhaps they want us to be fearful, that way we let them introduce over the top rules and regulations. Google Earth and Google images show you so much, why worry about a person with a camera.
Report this comment
Star Watch
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Ah, the good old Prevention of Terrorism act - every copper's best friend. We can and do use this as grounds for arrest whenever anyone starts waving a camera around. No doubt the ITFC stewards are just jumping on the same bandwagon.
Report this comment
PC Plod
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
I wish the steward near as was as enthusiastic in repremanding spectators who swear all the time (family area) instead of burying his chin in his throat and looking away!! Yes five season tickets he does deserve a medal.
Report this comment
Yarn
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Why is most people with a badge and a uniform think they are Clint Eastwood when they don their work clothes? A terrorist would probably get all heshe needed from Google Street View insteadof risking an encounter with one of the hi-viz vest wearing "enforcers".
Report this comment
Steve Blake
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Mick Warden and his baffoons are always over the top at PR! A friend of mine was ejected whilst his son was in the stands, and it was a case of mistaken identity.
Report this comment
C D
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
" I'm photographing my son, he's a ballboy" is exactly what a terrorist might say. They wouldn't say "yes i'm a terrorist". Had the father just shown the pictures in the first place, none of this fuss would have happened.
Report this comment
Ted Maul
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
I think common sense was forgone when they took this guy away to interrogate him. Some retraining may be necessary to avoid any further humiliation for both patrons and the club itself. Poor show ITFC
Report this comment
IpswichResident
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
It could be worse Martin, you might have accidentally taken a photo of Marcus Evans.
Report this comment
JOHN BURLS
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
He is lucky they did not claim he was a paedophile. In this mad PC and safety obsessed world it seems that every person taking photographs is either a terrorist or a paedophile.
Report this comment
Star Watch
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
I do have concerns over the attitude shown by stewards at the ground. I have found them to be over suspicious, overpowering and generally welcoming. This compiled with a terrible game on the pitch, doesn’t make an afternoon at Portman Road particularly appealing.
Report this comment
David White
Tuesday, March 5, 2013