Councillor Paul Convery

Islington council seeks ‘chuggers’ ban

by Tom Marshall Thursday, January 5, 2012
7:36 AM

Islington could become the first place in the country to ban “chuggers”.

The council is consulting lawyers about bringing in a by-law to stop teams of “in your face” street fundraisers who sign up long-term direct debit donors – and work for agencies that take a cut of the payments.

The move would answer the calls of residents who complain of being hassled by the collectors, often nicknamed chuggers or charity muggers.

Cllr Paul Convery, Islington Council’s executive member for planning, regeneration and transport, said: “There are too many, they hassle people and they are in your face.

“It seems to be legal robbery in some ways and it gives charities a bad name. The time has come to tackle this nuisance.”

The council is also urging the government to bring into force licensing powers introduced in the 2006 Charities Act – and is demanding the industry watchdog, the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association (PFRA), remove the borough’s streets from its list of approved sites.

The Gazette reported in December that the council was entering talks on limiting numbers, but PFRA’s offer has been rejected, with Cllr Convery saying it amounted to “business as usual”. He now wants a complete end to fundraising at the seven sites – the Angel, Highbury Corner, Archway, Farringdon, Holloway Road and Old Street – despite the fact it could inflict a blow to charities that rely on the cash.

Tracy Griffin, fundraising director at Shelter in Old Street, said: “Face to face teams are a very important and effective way of reaching people who may need our help, as well as recruiting new supporters.

“It is highly regulated, both in terms of numbers allowed on the streets and also in behaviour. All of our fundraisers abide by a strict industry code of practice.”

Lib Dem Cllr Susan Buchanan, who has raised concerns about chuggers, said: “It can’t go on as it is, but I worry that banning it altogether is a bit heavy-handed. We need to consider it from the charities point of view as well.”

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3 comments

Hallelujah!! Praise be to Islington Council if this gets passed. In any other circumstance, when someone follows you down the street demanding you stop and talk to them despite your constant refusals,it would be classed as harassment. No means no in ANY circumstance. If I'm running late to get to my job I do not want to be harrased and made to feel bad because I don't want to hand over my bank details to a charity that I cannot afford to make donations to. I already give as much as I can and am an avid campaigner for charities that I support. If these people were working for charity properly they would be volunteering their time, NOT taking at least £8 per hour for their "work" and the companies who run these would not take large percentages to line their pockets.

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Amanda Mae Steele

Monday, January 9, 2012
My eyesight isn't good, as I've had a stroke and I sometimes don't see chuggers when they jump in front of me. In a couple of cases I've actually bumped into them. I donate to charity quite a bit and make sure that any charity that chugs doesn't get a penny of my donations. The problem is now so bad at Upper Street with chuggers, that if I can, I shop elsewhere and especially at Eastfield, where they are not stupid enough to allow chuggers and smokers to pollute the streets and drive away trade.

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james@jamesmiller.com

Monday, January 9, 2012
About time this public nuicence is banned and about time too. Let us reclaim the streets and walk our streets in peace. When times when highstreets are struggling to attract shoppers the last thing we need is chuggers harassing people. I would like to say two things: Tracy Griffin from Shelter, F2F (chugging) is not highly regulated especially in terms of behaviour and abiding by the code of practice. Don't forget that Shelter chugger were caught harassing passengers on buses in Edinburgh only a few weeks ago. Because of the upset it caused Shelter were forced to appologise. This just proves you are lying. Never trust the PFRA as they are just a trade association for F2F, completely financed by the industry and will only look after their best interests. The PFRA having been conning local authorities around the country by telling them that they are a proper regulator.

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Curryking

Thursday, January 5, 2012