On the basis that filming is restricted to public walkway using
only a camera and tripod and portable sound equipment, no special
licences or indemnities are required. Please note that crew and
equipment must remain on the public walkway at all times, except
where separate permission to film on private property has been
obtained. Neither crew nor equipment may cause any obstruction or
danger to pedestrians wishing to pass by on the walkway. Equipment
must not be placed in the highway (except by special permission -
for which a licence will be issued).
Licences
Should you have any equipment that is not immediately portable
(eg tracking/heavy props/scaffold towers), a licence is required
and permission must be granted in advance. This is usually done at
a site meeting, when you will be given the necessary form to apply
for a licence by post. In order for your licence to be sent back to
you in time a minimum of 10 working days notice will be needed.
Indemnities
If you know that you will require a generator or anything that
may be considered hazardous (cables/wet down/SFX/cherrypickers), an
indemnitiy is required which must be collected in advance by
appointment. Cherrypicker licences must be collected by the
cherrypicker operator. It is therefore advisable to get an
appointment in the diary as soon as possible at the Street
Management Office to do this. The number to call is 020 7332 3553 /
4 - tell them that you are booking an appointment to collect an
indemnity for filming. Please make this appointment as close to
your filming date as possible so that time is allowed for the
necessary paperwork. If for any reason your filming is cancelled or
you simply no longer require a generator, please ensure that you
cancel this appointment.
Weekday filming (7.00am - 7.00pm)
No dispensation can be given for winniebagos or catering
vehicles. Cranes are not permitted and tracking is only permitted
in very few, quiet, pedestrian areas. It is rare for a tracking
licence to be issued on a weekday between 07.00am - 19.00pm.
Filming that requires police assistance will rarely be permitted on
weekdays.
Filming using vehicles
Should you wish to film with a low loader, a tracking vehicle or
any other vehicle, please note that your vehicle and any parts
attached to it must be fully roadworthy, licensed and insured. Both
the Metropolitan Police and the City Police have tightened up their
checks on such vehicles due to recent incidents involving vehicles
that were not safe or were over the legal size/weight restrictions.
Any vehicle must follow all road regulations at all times and cause
no obstruction or danger to any other vehicle or pedestrian. If you
require that your vehicle should do anything out of the ordinary or
cause a temporary hold-up of any kind, this can only be done with
police assistance which must be booked a minimum of a week in
advance.
Police
Police Service is required at any film or photo shoot that
involves any of the following:
- replica firearms or emergency service vehicles, or actors
dressed as policemen or firemen
- anything that involves controlling traffic
- any SFX that could be considered hazardous (smoke/wind/etc) or
that could cause concern to the general public, surrounding
residential and business communities.
- any other activity that is generally considered to be
illegal, hazardous or to have a disproportionate effect on
the community.
Police service must be agreed and booked a minimum of 10 working
days before the date of filming. A cost will be incurred where it
is deemed that the use of Police resources is necessary.
Ideally the police should be invited to any recce that is arranged
(this would be arranged by the Film Liaison Officer); from then on
Police Service should be arranged directly between you and the City
of London Police. You should complete the two forms (available from
the Film Liaison Office) and fax them directly to the Operational
Planning Department of Wood Street Police Station on fax number 020
7601 2511.
If a meeting has not taken place it may be best to telephone or
email the Film Liaison Office first to explain the filming. The
Film Officer can then liaise with the City Police to determine the
Police resources required for the shoot to take place.