Shoppers in Tayside and Fife should not encounter problems if they wish to photograph their children in local retail centres.
A sample of popular shopping centres in Courier country reveals many are operating a “common sense” approach when it comes to the use of photographic equipment on their premises.
It follows an incident last week in Glasgow that saw a man questioned by police after taking a snapshot of his daughter on his mobile phone.
The Courier contacted several shopping centres in Fife and Dundee to establish their policies on taking pictures, with our sample showing customers are asked to use their cameras sensibly.
David Carson, centre manager of the Overgate in Dundee, said: “If somebody is taking a photo of their own children then we will not bother them.
“We don’t have a formal policy but if we see someone taking photographs of CCTV, for instance, then we will speak to them.”
John Morton, Wellgate Shopping Centre manager, confirmed the matter was not subject to official rules.
The Kingdom Shopping Centre in Glenrothes confirmed their security staff had been advised to be aware of any suspicious activity within the centre, particularly in areas around banks and building societies.
However, the centre regularly hosts public events and demonstrations, which will see parents and friends snap away without any interference from staff.
Anna Bluman, marketing manager at the centre, said: “Our security staff are advised to use common sense and most people can distinguish the difference between a harmless family photo and something more suspicious.”
The attitudes of shopping centres hit the spotlight following the incident last Friday when Chris White was questioned by police after taking a picture of his four-year-old daughter eating an ice cream at the Braehead shopping centre.
Owners Capital Shopping Centres have since announced that they have changed their photographic policy, meaning that staff will not prevent friends and family taking pictures of one another within the centre.
However, the company has said that security will still challenge anybody thought to be acting suspiciously.