Wednesday, June 25, 2025

£100 fine today for campaigning for NHS outside Redbridge Town Hall

To my surprise, earlier today when campaigning outside Redbridge Town Hall with Ashburn Holder, I was fined £100 for putting up a poster calling for a new wing at King George on the Town Hall railings and leafleting for a new wing for King George public meeting at 8pm on 7th July. I will appeal against the order saying campaigning for a new wing at King George is not advertising per the extract from the order on the Council Website London Borough of Redbridge Anti- Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 PART 4, SECTION 59 Ilford Town Centre, Loxford/Valentines/Clementswood/ Barkingside/Cranbrook Wards Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) THE ORDER No person should affix or distribute any forms of advertising in the restricted area. This includes the advertisements for those offering personal services this includes the advertisement of telephone numbers. Offences under this Public Space Protection Order Any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with the terms of the Order is guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on a standard scale. A police constable, a Police Community Support Officer, an authorised council officer or persons authorised by the council may issue a Fixed Penalty Notice to any persons they have reason to believe has committed an offence. (S.68) A Fixed Penalty Notice of £100.00 will be issued to offenders. Payment of the Fixed Penalty Notice will discharge any liability to conviction for an offence under Section 67 (1) of the Act. The Order may be cited as the London Borough of Redbridge Ilford Town Centre, Valentines, Cranbrook, Loxford, Clementswood and Barkingside Wards Public Space Protection Order and shall come into force on 17th October 2023 and remain in force for a period of three years until October 2026.

I wrote this all Councillors in Redbridge earlier today

Dear Councillors


This taken from my blog on the save King George Hospital blog earlier today.


To my surprise, earlier today when campaigning outside Redbridge Town Hall with Ashburn Holder, I was fined £100 for putting up a poster calling for a new wing at King George on the Town Hall railings and leafleting for a new wing for King George public meeting at 8pm on 7th July. I will appeal against the order saying campaigning for a new wing at King George is not advertising per the extract from the order on the Council Website


London Borough of Redbridge Anti- Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 PART 4, SECTION 59 Ilford Town Centre, Loxford/Valentines/Clementswood/ Barkingside/Cranbrook Wards Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) THE ORDER No person should affix or distribute any forms of advertising in the restricted area. This includes the advertisements for those offering personal services this includes the advertisement of telephone numbers. Offences under this Public Space Protection Order Any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with the terms of the Order is guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on a standard scale. A police constable, a Police Community Support Officer, an authorised council officer or persons authorised by the council may issue a Fixed Penalty Notice to any persons they have reason to believe has committed an offence. (S.68) A Fixed Penalty Notice of £100.00 will be issued to offenders. Payment of the Fixed Penalty Notice will discharge any liability to conviction for an offence under Section 67 (1) of the Act. The Order may be cited as the London Borough of Redbridge Ilford Town Centre, Valentines, Cranbrook, Loxford, Clementswood and Barkingside Wards Public Space Protection Order and shall come into force on 17th October 2023 and remain in force for a period of three years until October” ENDs Extract, the blog includes a video of me being fined.


I say article 10 giving me a right to freedom of expression applies under the Human Rights Act. It used to be a Redbridge, and I expect British tradition that residents could leaflet outside the Town Hall.


The jargon for such campaigning is civic engagement and there is research to show that civic engagement works and is good for our community.


In the past I was part of a team that campaigned for years ito save King George A&E and leaflets and banners at the Town Hall were a big part of the campaign.


It strikes me that the Leader needs to intervene to stop the fine and order retraining for his enforcement team so they can tell the difference between a commercial flyer and a leaflet protected under under article 10 of the Human Rights Act.


Should you be supportive of my argument I would be grateful if you could write to the Leader. Council staff and the enforcement team objected to the banner, but only leafleting is mentioned in the penalty notice.


Regards


Andy Walker


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