The rules on train photography have been clarified after it was claimed that a student had been arrested for taking a photograph of a train as she could have been part of a "terrorist plot".

Following the Epsom Guardian’s online story of the alleged arrest at Tattenham Corner Station, British Transport Police (BTP) received a number of enquiries about when it is illegal to take photographs at train stations.

Chris Ward overheard a woman saying that a student taking photographs for a school project was arrested at the station and the photos deleted from her camera as ‘she could have been part of a terrorist cell plotting some form of attack on the train’.

But BTP said no record was generated of the alleged incident.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Wratten said: "We have taken the suggestion that an individual was arrested for photography on the railway extremely seriously.

"Had this arrest taken place it would have generated a report, however, we have searched all BTP systems, those of the Metropolitan Police Service and Surrey Police for the last 12 months and can find no record which confirms this allegation.

"There are no powers prohibiting the taking of photographs, film or digital images in a public place.

"Therefore members of the public and press should not be prevented from doing so.

"Moreover the rail network often attracts rail enthusiasts and amateur photographers and we, alongside the rail industry, recognise their valuable role in the railway community.

"If someone is taking photographs on the rail network they may be spoken to by a member of rail staff or a police officer but we encourage this engagement because photographers and their images play a vital role in helping us identify criminals and providing information.

"The rail network is a CCTV-rich environment, and this, combined with images sent to us by members of the pubic, means that we have great success in detecting crime."

A BTP spokeswoman added that a person may be stopped under terrorism laws, but no record of an arrest on this basis was generated either.

She said: "A police officer may stop and search someone under section 43 of the Terrorism Act 2000 providing that they reasonably suspect that the person is a terrorist.

"Under section 43 of the Terrorism Act 2000, a person can be searched to discover whether or not they have in their possession anything which may constitute evidence that they are a terrorist.

"This power may be used at any time or in any place when the threshold of reasonable suspicion that the person is a terrorist is met. No specific authorisation is required."

For further guidance visit http://www.btp.police.uk/passengers/advice_and_information/rail_enthusiasts.aspx