Shearwater grandmother, Noelle Geeves, said she was “taken aback” when a pool attendant told her not to take photos of her grandsons, aged seven and 10, at the Devonport Aquatic Centre.
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Mrs Geeves said she wondered if she’d heard correctly when the attendant told her cameras and taking photos were not allowed.
She said he gave no explanation.
Mrs Geeves said other parents overheard and expressed “concern at the madness of what he said”.
“There is no signage I could see. I am a female senior citizen who hardly fits the profile of a paedophile or child sex offender...has the world gone completely insane?
A spokesman for Splash Devonport Aquatic Centre operator, Belgravia Leisure, said taking photos of family and friends was allowed and the intention of the Belgravia camera and mobile phone policy was for media or professional photographers to seek prior permission to film or take photos.
“We ask all patrons respect the privacy of others, including protecting children, by capturing only their family and friends to ensure others are not photographed without consent,” he said.
“Given the recent interpretation by Splash Devonport Aquatic Centre staff, we will use this as a timely reminder to educate all our sites on the intention of the policy.”
Belgravia said it would work with staff to ensure the policy was applied “locally with common sense and with vigilance for the privacy and comfort of all patrons”.
Photography is banned in change rooms.
Meantime the Burnie Aquatic Centre operator, Sea-Lyons Aquatics, said it asked the public to gain consent from management prior to using photographic equipment.
