Good points made, Shaun. In the USA, for instance, some of the laws concerning firearms affect everyone while the object of the law is the criminal, the one who will disregard the law in the first place.  Some feel safer or like a positive move has been made to write yet another ineffective regulation.

I have found in some instances (not in the UK) that simply asking a guard or someone associated with a building or other object, the answer is sometimes, "Yes, take pictures as you wish".  With museum exhibits, of course that is different circumstance and within the rule of the institute but still ask, "Is it ok to photograph if no flash is used?"  At one exhibit I am told no photos allowed and at another, ok with no flash.