When you pass a drain grating, avert your eyes..

Especially in Manchester.

Stephen Clarke was arrested in Manchester during the Labour Party Conference last year.

His crime? He was arrested for taking a photograph on his mobile phone, - a photograph of a sealed drain grating.

Except that he hadn't! When the police looked at his mobile, there was no photograph of the drain.

This didn't deter them. They locked him up for two days while they searched his house, his telephone records and his computer. He was held on the very broad "suspicion of planning an act of terror".

When they couldn't find anything suspicious, they let him go without charge, after taking his DNA and fingerprints, as they would of anyone accused of planning an act of terrorism.

He is thinking of taking legal action to have his DNA and finger print record destroyed, confident that the recent ruling in Europe that keeping his details contravened the Human Rights Act. He has had to wait for three months.

Did the police not think that the absence of image on his mobile was indication enough that he was not photographing the drain grating? Or are they now so paranoid and so power crazy that their judgement is clouded?

If your hobby is looking at, photographing or even painting views with bridges, television or power masts or even High Streets, then make sure you are not observed.

Even more worrying, make sure that you don't film a policeman or even give the impression that you are, and especially if the policeman is behaving badly. We have not yet (quite) reached the level of the Stasi or other police state functionaries, but we are getting nearer!