Swim England Photography and Photographing Swimmers Policy

Armthorpe Kingfishers Swimming Club adheres to the Swim England Photography and Photographing Swimmers Policy

USE OF MOBILE PHONES

Swim England’s Safeguarding policy ‘Wavepower’ has been updated with effect from 1st January 2024. The policy “prohibits all use of a mobile phone or device in a changing area during Swim England regulated activity”.

We respectfully ask all members of our club to adhere to this policy, for the benefit of all concerned. Our club has had absolutely no issues in the past, so we are confident that this will continue to be the case.

Many thanks in anticipation of your support.

Mary Firth

Welfare Officer

Why Have a Policy?

This guidance applies to all photographs taken on film or digital camera (including mobile phones) and all sorts of moving pictures including video recordings (and video streaming).


The terms “child” or “children” include anyone under the age of 18 years.

There has been much talk about whether it is safe to have images taken of children participating in sport. Whilst the great majority of images are appropriate and are taken in good faith, it is a fact that images can be misused and children can be put at risk if common-sense procedures are not observed. 


To set out such procedures, this Policy has been prepared by Swim England.


Swim England acknowledges the assistance of the Premier League and is grateful for their consent to the reproduction of elements of the Premier League Code of Practice “Images of Childrenʼs participating in Activities at Premier League Clubs” within this Policy.

Aims of this policy

First, as in all matters concerned with the safeguarding of children, Swim England aims to help clubs establish and develop good practice.

Second, Swim England aims to help clubs avoid three potential sources of child abuse:

Swim England have been aware of cases where the photographing of swimmers has been used for illicit purposes. Such illicit photos are taken by persons purporting to be official photographers, hence the ruling that no one unconnected with an event, i.e. not a parent/ carer who takes photos unless they are a suitably approved photographer and have the consent of the meet manager.

Recommended best practice


All photographs must observe generally accepted standards of decency in particular: 

Swim England do not wish to stop parents photographing their children if they wish at their “moments of glory” but all clubs have to ensure they do all we can to safeguard childrenʼs well being in the current climate of concern.

The Official Photographer

The aim of each official photographer should be to help celebrate and promote swimming. When taking an image they should be asked to: 

Policy on videoing children during club sessions:

The videoing of children during club sessions is not recommended. Any videos that are taken would have to be justified by the club as to why this video has been made, (e.g. to assist in swimming stroke development).


Mobile phones

Mobile phones should be registered as a camera if it has that facility in line with our policy on cameras. All clubs need to make its members aware that while Swim England does not support the banning of phones, as children need them to keep in touch with parents, particularly in emergencies, they support a requirement that manufacturers ensure they add a “noticeable sound” that it is audible if a phone camera is used. In the meantime clubs should remind members that any photos taken should fall within our guidelines and that if mobile phones are taken into changing rooms, the facility to take photos must not be used.

Should photographs (with or without) names of children be posted on a club website?

It is recommended that individualised photographs should not be kept on a clubʼs website and certainly not with identifying names as this could lead to a child being approached and placed in a vulnerable position. The same applies to a clubʼs printed materials such as a clubʼs annual report.

The only exception to this policy is where the childʼs parent or carer provides specific written consent to the club publishing photographs. This consent may be withdrawn at any time and clubs should take all reasonable steps to respect the wishes of the parent/carer.

WITHDRAWAL OF CONSENT FORM

A photography consent or refusal of consent form is now part of the joining form. We will always operate within the above guidelines, however, if  you are a present member and do not want to give consent for any photographs of your child to be taken or used in any way, please fill in the attached form (click on withdrawal of consent form) and send it to the club secretary or welfare officers so that we can make sure that no photographs of your child are taken.