Phantom XT914

MoD Police can arrest you off the base in the public area, provided they have authority from the local force. Once they do then they will act as members of that force and will take you to a local station.
If you work for the MoD/armed forces they don’t actually need permission and can arrest you with approriate reasoning.
Hope that clears it up a bit.

Look for the boundary markers. This is where (inside which) you can be aprehended by any member of HM Forces who thinks you may be up to no good, on a “grab you first ask questions later basis”.
Quite often they are hidden on the opposite side of any public roads running around MOD bases.
MODPLOD can only detain (pending the arrival of the civilian force) you on the public highway but within their boundary they can arrest you.

The two photos were googled and came from this fascinating website http://www.undergroundkent.co.uk/

No statute but as the accessway MAY be on private property you’d better be certain it IS a public highway over which you have a right of way and the ability to do what you want provided it is not contrary to statute….

The road leading up to croughton is part of the base i beleive…

As with so much it depends if someone makes an issue of it and what authority they wield…

The Military Police can record your car number plate and all police have direct access to the DVLA database, some police car cameras can tell if a car is stolen or is being watched.

Damien is right, usually they do although when I was a fair bit younger I was refused permission to photograph the plastic Spitfire at Benson, younger Steven thought. ‘Its only a plastic Spitfire’, older Steven thinks, ‘why did I want to photograph a plastic 1:1 model? 🙂

while the USAF personnel have no power to stop you unless you enter the base, they could call upon UK civilian or MoD Police to arrest you. You were lucky, and probably watched like a hawk – if you pointed that camera anywhere else you’d have had some flashing blue lights on your case pretty quick I should think. Your actions weren’t wise and no doubt made things worse for people wanting to take pics in future – a simple phone call or letter to the Croughton PAO would have got you permission to take the pics!

Thanks and agree a courtesy call would have helped but it was opportunist and not a planned visit.

Is there a law in the UK statute that makes what I did an offence???

Roger Smith.

Probably best to edit your post to NOT acknowledge the guys on the gate for letting you do this they may not thank you if someone in charge sees them if you know what I mean, I have inadvertantly done this myself once, Sorry to be a pain but the anal retentatives are out there waiting for opportunities….John P

It’s probably a topic previously covered but as I’m a newcomer hope you’ll forgive me for any duplication.

When stopping at RAF Croughton to photograph the F-100 and F-105 on the gate there a couple of years ago I sauntered up to tell the US guards on the gate of my intentions. They said I couldn’t, I said I thought I could, was going to and did.

I do not beleive I am breaking any law if, on a public highway in the UK, I take a photograph with my camera pointing towards a military base. Can anyone tell me I am wrong?

Roger Smith.

PS similar problems in the US saw me biting my tongue and sullenly skulking off, tail between legs – I was far less sure of my position.

Setter,

Advice taken, better safe than sorry eh! 🙂

Plazz

Problem is now Setter’s post gives the game away…

Perhaps we should delete all three.

P.S. Great pictures Plazz.

Setter,

Advice taken, better safe than sorry eh! 🙂

Plazz

Great pics !

Was this one of the air display aircraft in 92?

I hope so too, not too many of these left now, 13yrs this Oct since they last flew, can still remember it. Fantastic aeroplane thanks for posting. I have only seen this one from the air, I fly from Conington sometimes so often overfly Brampton and have a look at her.

Hi Plazz

Thanks for the pics really good to see

Probably best to edit your post to NOT acknowledge the guys on the gate for letting you do this they may not thank you if someone in charge sees them if you know what I mean, I have inadvertantly done this myself once, Sorry to be a pain but the anal retentatives are out there waiting for opportunities….

Regards
John P

Hopefully she’ll be in good condition and on display for many years to come.

Yep lets hope so.