The British Journal of Photography have made some cunning FOI requests to determine the extent to which controversial “S44″ stop-and-search powers have been applied across Britain.

Under Sections 40-44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 , the police can stop and search you without a warrant, or any grounds for suspicion, and can arrest you and hold you for up to 48 hours without any charge being brought. Any items in your possession can be taken in evidence.

Of course, these draconian powers haven’t caught many terrorists. But they have been used over and over again to harass photographers:

• Photographers snap over use of Section 44
• From snapshot to Special Branch
• I’m a Photographer, not a Terrorist
• PhotoRights.org
• Not A Crime Campaign

Filming began on Saturday for the BBC4 Drama ‘Bringing Down the House’ about my battle with the House of Commons for MPs’ expense receipts. Today the cast list was published.

Two-time BAFTA winner Anna Maxwell Martin is holding her own against a slew of older men playing the parts of the old boys network in Parliament. I’m sure she’ll give ‘em hell.

There’s a rumour that I might be an extra in the film. We’ll have to just wait and see on that.

Stay tuned.

To some it might seem that today’s article in the Guardian is bad news:

Super-injunctions do limit freedom of speech, Speaker’s lawyers advise
• Guidance contradicts justice minister’s stance
• Select committee fears for parliamentary privilege

But that is to overlook the historic tradition whereby MPs don’t give a fig about the invasion of our privacy, civil liberties or freedom of speech up until they find their own affected.

Who cares about the common man’s freedom of speech being stifled by the world’s worst libel law when you have granted yourself immunity from it through parliamentary privilege? It was a similar story with draconian and disturbingly far-ranging anti-terrorist laws that were all very well up until an MP was arrested in his office (Damien Green MP) or bugged while visiting a prison inmate (Sadiq Khan MP). Then – suddenly – MPs had second thoughts about the totalitarian culture they had nurtured.

Therefore as a result of MPs now finding themselves liable under the libel law I conclude that libel reform is set to become a top priority on the legislative agenda. You read it here first!