I would like to personally wholeheartedly support Heather Rawling, who is fighting Leicester City Council against £100 fine she received for breaching antisocial behaviour laws.
Whilst it is essential that we have laws to deal with antisocial behaviour, it is profoundly undemocratic and ablest to target people in this way.
This is because small campaigning charities and small political parties simply can’t afford to pay fines like this, and setting tables up is one of the few ways we have to reach out to the public. We often won’t know until we’re actually on the spot , where is the best place to actually set a table up or where best to reach the maximum number of people, but we always make absolutely sure it causes minimal disruption. Unlike the council themselves, who have form in putting up barriers or street furniture, with seemingly no account of the needs of disabled people.
I myself am disabled, and when I have stood for political office or highlighted issues relating to disability rights in the city, I have been unable to door knock due to my disability, so I set up pop-up tables to meet people. I want to hear their issues and this is one of the few ways open to disabled or older people to campaign.
To the council, I would say I have raised this issue with you in the past and pointed out the antidemocratic nature of this law, and called on you to use common sense.
I would also say please release your equality impact assessment which you should legally have undertaken before putting in place this change, because it unfairly impacts on disabled and elderly people.
Good luck Heather.