Live and let live people. Security within our transportation system is indeed a very serious thing n the threat till today is very real. THe JI incident serves as a stern reminder that today's peace cannot and should not be taken for granted. I have seen alot of remarks and replies and people seems to be viewing it very lightly (seems to have the it cannot happen here mentality). Incidents in London and Madrid should be taken upon as a lesson and we should not allow any possibility for it to take place here. Like what someone said, photographers being targetted after the JI incident. We as photographers can help by making it better and not any worse, making it difficult for the authorities.
Regardless of whether photo taking is allowed in places such as the MRT is allowed, photography is afterall an activity to relax, why create something more to stress out? I do agree that the way some security personnels and/or staff handling the matter could have been better, but its their job and let's jus cooperate with them. We all have a part to play. A little smile will go a long way. If people wants to know whether SMRT staff can ask you to stop taking picture or ask you to leave, yes, true that they are a public listed company. They can have their set of rules and regulations which they are not required to publish. However, under Rapid Transit Systems Act (Chapter 263A, Section 42) Rapid Transit Systems Regulations, Arrangement of Regulations, Part IV, Conduct of Passengers, Point 11. Compliance with Instructions- Every person while on the railway premises shall comply with all notices, signs and all reasonable directions and instructions of any authorised person. Oh, if you are interested to know what denotes "authorised person", under the same chapter, same section, "authorised person" means any officer, employee or agent of the Authority, or of its licensee, acting in the execution of his duty upon or in connection with the railway. Anyway, they usually just request you to stop taking pictures, record down your name in case of any links (to provide to the police if needed). As for whether they will ask you to delete them and whether they are authorised to do so, leave that for another debate.
Ok, enough of the law stuff, but all in all everyone who is working in a security job has a responsibility towards others. The security personnel of a building is responsible to its ocupants, SMRT staff responsible to the commuters, etc. Its never a nice or easy job. We can try not to make it worse?
Comparative to UK, photographers are already treated in a much better way. We are in CS cause we like photography and missing a picture or two of a certain place or building will not dampen the mood. Let move on from here, there is a whole world out there waiting for us to take pictures of. We are kind of becoming a place where if there are no laws, we do not have to do that. A little social grace will find its way back to you. Remember, what goes around, comes around
cheers ppl!