Marc you are so right about this. I have a pet legal person - she does criminal law but may know - and I suspect Guru will have the exact bit s of legalese to hand when he returns.

However - acting in a non legal capacity I feel I must say again the general principle is that in a public place with a visible camera you can film ANYTHING and you NEVER need to ask anyone for permission to do so.

Same as you can look / photogrpah / draw / paint / remember the things you see.

I have been filming people in public for seven years at all sorts of events - often demos surrounded by police. People have often told me I cant film - often sec and police - I have always said 'yes i can - go away or arrest me / call the police' - never got arrested - sure pushed about a bit by the rozzers on occasion but that is just the game sometimes.

You DONT NEED RELEASE FORMS per se - BUT most distributors will insist - but again if you are in a public place and your cam is in full view that is not required. I mean come on it's a no brainer. I film a demo - I go to sell the vdieo to the BBC news - are they going to ask for 1238 release forms -NO - NOT.

It is tempting to live in fear of big brother as a confusing mess of so called 'anti terrorist' legislation has been rushed thru parliament but as film makers we are documenting the present for our descendants and in my view film makers have a moral responsability NOT to be intimidated by idiotic and clumsy legislation ( not much applys) and lazy paranoid assumptions.

My attitude is - get the shot first - argue later.

( please note again I am not acting in a legal capacity)