Street Collections, Leafleting, Petitions and Newspapers

Generally speaking, the law allows wider latitude for collecting money for charitable operations than for commercial or political ones, both of which are more closely regulated by licensing. 'Charitable purposes' means any charitable, benevolent or philanthropic purpose. It includes the relief of poverty and the advancement of religion or education at home or abroad, but it does not include collections to raise funds for a political party or for a political campaign, such as CND or animal liberation. However, the law relating to these subjects is confused and inconsistently applied by the police. If in doubt, check bye-laws with the local authority and the police beforehand.

There is no need to obtain a licence or certificate for handing out leaflets or collecting signatures for a petition. A leaflet must have on it the name and address of the printer. Some bye-laws contain restrictions on the places where leafleting may take place; check the bye-laws at the town hall. The police may also move leafleters if they appear to be causing an obstruction. It is an offence to hand out leaflets that are threatening, abusive or insulting or those that are intended to stir up racial hatred.

A petition to Parliament is governed by special rules and must conform to special wording. Copies of the rules can be obtained from the House of Commons.

Sticking up posters in public places is quite legal, so long as:

You have the consent of the owner of the hoarding, fence or wall in question.
The poster is no more than six feet square.
It advertises a non-commercial event, including political, educational or social meetings.
There is no bye-law to prevent it.

Persons over 18 may sell newspapers in the street or from door to door, as long as the sale is for campaigning purposes. If the sale is for profit, it becomes street trading or peddling (if door to door), both of which are illegal without a licence. Sometimes difficulty is caused because the police believe that the newspaper or magazine is less of a campaigning document and more a device to raise money for a political organisation. Also, the sale of newspapers may obstruct the highway, which is a criminal offence (see also – Highway Obstruction).

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