Curb charity ‘muggers’ with new powers, councils urged

COMPLAINTS about chuggers – the “charity muggers” who try to persuade passers by to sign up for direct debit agreements – have prompted calls for local authorities to be given more powers to regulate street fundraisers.

Essential Edinburgh, which represents businesses in the capital, is backing the call for stronger legislation, saying it receives a steady stream of complaints about chuggers – particularly on Princes Street.

In Glasgow, the council hopes a voluntary scheme to reduce the amount of charity fundraisers will effectively cut down the nuisance to shoppers. However, a proposed voluntary scheme which was suggested in Edinburgh last year failed to get off the ground.

Andy Neal, chief executive of Essential Edinburgh, said: “We continue to get a stream complaints – particularly from people along Princes Street – that there are too many people and that they are overly persuasive.

“We would support anything that would increase the power of local authorities to control what is going on – because there is very little anyone can do.”

A survey carried out by the Local Government Association found almost three out of four councils (72 per cent) considered chugging to be a problem in their area and more than half (54 per cent) said they were putting potential shoppers off visiting their local high street. The LGA is calling for a change in the law.

Currently, people collecting cash on behalf of a charity have to apply for a licence from a local authority. However, chuggers, who simply collect bank details and direct debit agreements, are not required to have a licence.

Glasgow Council announced a voluntary code to be introduced at the end of April which will limit the numbers of charity fundraisers allowed in the town centre.

A Cosla spokesman said: “In legal terms, chuggers are not breaking the law as no offence is being committed.

“However, to avoid issues or problems in areas where chuggers are deemed to be an issue it is my understanding that the councils in questions have reached agreement with the charities involved to limit access to certain days, certain times and certain areas to minimise disruption and to allow citizens to go about their business in the normal way.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Government confirmed chuggers are not currently covered by the laws which govern charity collections.

He said: “In Scotland, public charitable collections are regulated by section 119 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, and the Public Charitable Collections (Scotland) Regulations 1984, as amended, which refer to collections of money.

“Charity law is devolved in Scotland, so any changes in England would not apply here. However, we’re aware of the review by the UK government and will follow the outcome of that process with interest.”