I cannot say I will shed any tears if the bastards do disappear from our high streets. I am far from alone in long since having reached the decision to deliberately not give to any charity that uses this method of fund raising. As more and more people shun them, the method becomes ever more unpopular and it eventually backfires on the charities that use them, eventually extinction was going to be on the cards anyway.
So, really, we did not need new rules to regulate them.
The new rules, developed by the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association, mean that fundraisers are no longer allowed stand within three metres of a shop doorway, pedestrian crossing, cashpoint or train and bus station entrances; effectively barring them from most high streets. Nor can they approach members of the public deemed to be “on-duty”, banning them from approaching anyone who might be working. They are also barred from working on sites booked by other fundraisers. Moreover, fundraisers have been told they must be open about how much their firm is paid to carry out the work and should now submit the wording of that to the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association (PFRA). They should also carry information about the sites they work on.
Well, yes, it is hard to have any sympathy. As Grace Dent points out in her opinion piece, they have rather brought it upon themselves. Equally, I have no sympathy with the charities that will be “choked” by this legislation. Again, their own fault. Behave reprehensibly and eventually it will come back to bite you.
However, did we really need draconian regulation – and I suggest, practicably unenforceable – to regulate where they may not stand and who they may or may not approach and how many steps they may follow someone? Did we really need the dead hand of the state to manage something that we have been managing ourselves for some years now? I have never given to a chugger and never will. They are a nuisance, but one that is relatively easily dealt with – even though at one point is was a daily gauntlet along the Euston Road – and going by their observable lack of success, the other commuters were managing just as well. Like them, I avoided eye contact and kept walking. So, not such an irritant that it warrants regulation.
Expect more of this legislation and pretty much due to just two things:
1) Remonstrate with someone who is hassling you these days and (at least) one answer is “What are you going to do about it ? I’m not breaking any laws…..”
2) Simply push past whoever is pissing you off and it may count as assault.
We are hostages and only The State can set us free*.
*IF we play by The State’s rules 😉
I don’t bother remonstrating or pushing. I just ignore them. If they step into my path, I step around them and keep walking. It has always worked so far. No need for outside assistance.
Oh, me too but my point is; once upon a time if someone deliberately crossed your path to accost or detain you then you’d have been well within your rights…and it wasn’t at all considered even impolite…to simply tell/ask them to move. A hard shove…if necessary…was something the other person could reasonably expect to happen and not have any right to complain about.
When it comes right down to it why should YOU (or I) be the ones to “Give Way”, so to speak ?
Bringing The Law into this kind of behaviour is just ridiculous so I do agree with you I just came to the same conclusion in a different way.
It strikes me that the first thing that should be banned is the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association… 😡
I find the right kind of eye contact is better than no eye contact.
For me, if I haven’t shaved then its a slightly wild, possibly enraged fixed stare as I walk toward them, almost as if I’m daring them to speak to me.
However, if I have shaved then its a deeply lascivious leer coupled with a facial tick of some sort, sort of a Kebab shop proprietor meets a Spanish serial killer look.
That last one works really well if its a guy.
Other than that, I never favour legislation when common sense or existing laws exist. It is a problem for people less able to say no (or look like a swarthy criminal.)
The trouble we have, and I found aslo in Edinburgh, the biggest problem is not the official ones any way.
Take Schloßstraße, here in Steglitz, for example. Over the last few days of bloody brilliant weather for a change, LITERALY every second lamp post (and YES, after the first ten or so I DID count them) is a bloody gypoe of some sort, with the begging bowl.
I don’t know if such…..?? Na, Untermensch HAVE fashions, but it appears this year, they ALL place theselves in what can only be sdescribed as a “Buddhist style” high kneeling position, like a begging dachshund, with the hand “in prayer”, and eyes directed at the ground.
Strange. Even staring at the ground, they can sense a Copper from six hundred meters though.
Which is where I came in. The problem, as with guns, is NOT the “legal” ones. Although they CAN be a pain in the arse as well.
(And it is terribly apparant that not ONE collected cent goes on soap or washing powder!)
They will simply shift to privately-owned or controlled locations. Greenpeace chuggers are working Sheffield station. Given East Midlands Trains’ lack of interest in replying to my emails about it, I wouldn’t be surprised eventually to see them working the trains themselves if they and the franchise holders think they can get away with it. Approaching people who are waiting to collect friends, family or colleagues on a railway station is not acceptable, nor is standing in the entrances to and from platforms, but the new rules don’t cover this. The fact that the omission is being enthusiastically exploited tells you all you need to know. Do what I am doing – write to MPs and the media.