Source: Yahoo News
June 24, 2008 Author: Sky staff
A bus-spotter says it is no longer safe to practise his hobby of 40 years after being branded a terrorist and a paedophile.
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Rob McCaffery, 50, is proud of his 30,000 photos of trams and coaches but after being interrogated twice in 12 months he fears the time may have come to hang up his camera.
The credit controller, from Gloucester, says he now suffers "appalling" abuse from the authorities and public who doubt his motives.
The bus-spotter, officially known as an omnibologist, said: "Since the 9/11 attacks there has been a crackdown.
"The past two years have absolutely been the worst. I have had the most appalling abuse from the public, drivers and police over-exercising their authority.
Mr McCaffery, who is married, added: "We just want to enjoy our hobby without harassment.
"I can deal with the fact someone might think I'm a terrorist, but when they start saying you're a paedophile it really hurts."
His love affair with buses has seen him touring former Eastern Bloc countries - but only in the UK has he been accused of doing anything dubious.
Last September in Pontypridd, Wales, a bus driver took exception to being caught in shot and called the police, who demanded to see what Mr McCaffrey had on film.
Later, in Monmouth, a Police Community Support Officers approached him and ran his name and address through the police database, after a member of the public became suspicious.
It is not illegal to take photos in a public place, and MP Austin Mitchell, who has been stopped for taking pictures himself, has called for officers to be better educated about "snappers' rights".
A Gloucestershire Police spokesman said: "If a member of the public becomes suspicious of an individual taking photos in public and makes a complaint to a police officer, the officer will first discuss the matter with the photographer.
"Normally the individual is more than happy to disperse any suspicion by showing an officer their photos and one of the benefits of digital cameras is that this can be done on the spot.
"However, if the officer remains suspicious as to the content of the images or the photographers intentions they have the authority, under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act to seize the camera and arrest the individual."
WHAT A SAD WHITE MAN
