While this is obviously shocking and raises an important issue, I don't think it is right to demonize this individual Community Support Officer. It's likely that he was only following some sort of orders or guidelines given to him by his superiors.

I would expect street police to look out for suspicious behaviour. Following the officer with the camera was an odd thing to do, and the reporter didn't appear to give any reason at all as to why he was doing it.

Videoing someone unknown to you in a public place isn't illegal, but it's certainly unfriendly and potentially harassment. For all the officer knew in the few seconds he had to think about it, this reporter could have been shoving his camera in lots of people's faces without permission and therefore would be a nuisance.

Interesting vid with regards to what can and can't be legally filmed though.

On a related note, have you heard the radio commercials that ask people to report potential terrorist behaviour, and give the example of filming in crowded places as though they're checking out locations to set off a bomb? That disturbs me. Any tourist with a camera could be reported, while I can't imagine a terrorist really needing to do anything other than make a mental note and moving on. It's not as if the crowded parts of this country can be kept a secret.

They're really spies from North Korea! They just speak in Jap to deceive the authorities.

Wow! If he did not want to be filmed he should have been clear about that rather than using his position and authority to bully others. Clearly cannot separate his personal values from his duties.

It is also sobering to wonder if this is, in part, a result of inadequate training leaving someone, with a bullying nature, illequipt to carry out their job.