Professional and amateur photographers staged a mass gathering in Trafalgar Square yesterday in protest against stop and searches under the Terror Act 2000.

The event was organised by the “I’m a Photographer, Not a Terrorist” (IAPNAT) campaign group, which claims that police are misusing their power under Section 44 of the act to stop and search without grounds for suspicion in certain designated areas.

The legislation is in place to target suspected terrorists on reconnaissance missions. However photographers snapping subjects ranging from Christmas lights to a fish and chip shop have been stopped. Demonstrator Robert Kirby said: “It’s a climate of fear, which is exactly what terror laws are supposed to fight against.”

The European Court of Human Rights ruled last week that the power to stop and search indiscriminately is unlawful.  The government is appealing against this judgement, but senior figures within the police have admitted that the law is being used improperly. Assistant Commissioner John Yates, head of counter-terrorism at the Metropolitan Police, said: “Section 44 is being used far too often on a random basis without any reasoning behind its use.”

Section 44 does not grant police particular powers in relation to photography and does not allow them to confiscate or destroy equipment and film. However there are a number of instances where this has occurred, including the confiscation of the cameras of well wishers lined up to see the Queen outside Sandringham Church this Christmas day.

While around 3000 photographers gathered in Trafalgar Square on Saturday, IAPNAT is gaining significant support across the country, with over 14,000 members of its Facebook group.