I was shooting pix outside St Stephen’s shopping mall in Hull when I was approached by a member of the security team (he’s the guy in my pic with his hand outstretched) who told me I was on private property and photography wasn’t allowed. The public are allowed - in fact, encouraged - to venture into into these private spaces, but only in the role of compliant consumers; in any other guise we may find ourselves excluded. If we’re carrying a wallet, we’re welcome; if we’re carrying a camera, we’re not. I wasn’t even inside the shopping centre, but on the pavement outside.
I’ll go back to the shopping centre, next time I’m in Hull, and resume my picture-taking. I would like to test the powers of the mall security guys. If they threaten to call the police, I’ll say “OK, go ahead”. These public/private spaces are proliferating in every town, and now include arcades, streets, squares and other open spaces, where we are free to shop, but not sit... comply, but not complain...
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