A plucky AAP news photographer has stood her ground in the face of demands from the Prime Minister’s powerful chief of staff Peta Credlin, who took umbrage at being snapped outside a media event.

Photographer Tracey Nearmy shot the seemingly innocuous images of Ms Credlin speaking on the phone at Melbourne’s Endeavour Hills police station on Friday.

Tony Abbott’s advisor was unhappy with the photographer, and demanded the photos be deleted as she was in a “secure environment”.

The incident was captured on video (see below) and uploaded to YouTube.

• Former treasurer’s bitter words for Peta Credlin
• Sack Peta Credlin, says Murdoch

Ms Credlin was adamant that the images should be removed.

“Sorry, I would like the photographs deleted, please,” Ms Credlin told Ms Nearmy immediately after she became aware they had been taken.

“This is a secure area,” she said. “I’m in a secure area. This is a secure environment. I want the photographs deleted.

“I was deliberately not in that room, because that was the media room.”

Ms Nearmy remained defiant, despite the “robust request” for the photos to go.

“I thought I should try to get some shots as (Ms Credlin’s) not normally in his entourage when he comes down here,” Ms Nearmy told SBS.

Think I might have vindicated some great Canberra beef.

— Tracey Nearmy (@TracENarms) June 12, 2015

@Sarah_Doreen NO! Never.

— Tracey Nearmy (@TracENarms) June 12, 2015

Ms Nearmy didn’t follow Ms Credlin’s orders, explaining she needed to speak to her picture editor before taking action.

The photos appeared on the AAP news service’s image website on Friday afternoon. The New Daily is a subscriber to AAP’s image and newswire services.

The Arts Law Centre of Australia provides a handy guide for photographers on the legalities of taking pictures of people in public places.

“It is generally possible to take photographs in a public place without asking permission,” the information sheet says.

“This extends to taking photographs of buildings, sites and people. There are, however, some limitations.”

Those limitations include obtaining release forms when the image is to be used for commercial purposes.

Criminal offences can apply if an image is taken of someone in a situation where they could reasonably expect to be afforded privacy, or when images are used for sexual arousal or gratification, but regulations vary from state to state.

Should the photographer have deleted the photos of Peta Credlin? Tell us what you think in the comment section below