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Street Collection Licences

It is illegal in this country to hold a Street Collection to collect money or sell articles for the benefit of charitable or other purposes without obtaining a Street Collection Licence from the Council if that collection is to be held 'in a street or public place'. A 'public place' is a 'place where the public has access'.

It is often assumed that collections held in shop doorways or car parks do not need a Street Collection Licence because they are being held on 'privately owned land'.  This is not true.  A shop doorway or carpark, when that shop is open for trading, is a 'public place' because the public has access at that time.  No other licence would be valid.  A Pedlars Licence, issued by the Police cannot be used for this purpose.  Only Local Authorities issue Street Collection Licence under Section 5 of the Police, Factories, etc. (Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1916, as amended by the Local Government Act 1972 and Schedule 29 of that Act.)

There is no cost for the issuing of consent but there are rules to be followed in applying.  Street Collections are usually made by Charities.  Collections usually take place in a town centre on busy shopping days.  Money is collected in tins.  There are regulations, which govern this type of collection.  Consents are restricted to enable charities to raise money without their collections clashing with those of other charities.

The purpose of the legal requirement to obtain consent is to ensure collectors are properly authorised and that money is collected in a secure way and the total proceeds collected are properly accounted for.

Oswestry Borough Council has a policy of issuing 20 Street Collection Licences each year.  Applications for Street Collections must be received at the council offices by the end of December.  Where the total applications is more than 20 then the collections are chosen by ballot by Full Council early each year.

Once granted a Licence will be issued along with a copy of the regulations and a Form of Statement which will need to be completed and returned to the council offices one month after the collection has taken place.

Contact Details

Licensing Section
Oswestry Borough Council
Castle View
Oswestry
Shropshire
SY11 1JR

Tel: 01691 677349
email: licensing@oswestry-bc.gov.uk