Camden New Journal: Buskers Lose High Court Battle

Camden New Journal: Buskers Lose High Court Battle
Post Date March 14, 2014
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Category Blog, Camden, Press

Published by Camden New Journal by Pavan Amara on 11th MArch 2014

See the article on Camden New Journal here.

BUSKERS in Camden Town have lost their High Court battle against Camden Council’s new licensing policy for street performers, but vowed this afternoon (Tuesday) that they “will not stop here”.

The musicians are fighting new rules which demand they all have licences, bans amplified music and sets a 9pm curfew for performances.

Instruments can be confiscated under the new rules which the Town Hall says it introduced to protect residents from disturbance.

These rules were challenged by a two-day judicial review earlier this month, but a High Court ruling released today by Mrs Justice Patterson at the Royal Courts of Justice said Camden did not need to tear up its plans.

Jonny Walker, from the Keep Streets Live campaign group, said the High Court judge had taken the council’s argument at “face value”.

He said: “We profoundly disagree with her judgement and will now seek to have this case heard by the Court of Appeal and to ask Camden not to enforce their policy until the case is heard by a higher court. Under Camden’s policy even singing a protest song without a licence could be a criminal offence. In a democratic society, singing a song in the street should never be a potential criminal offence.”

He added that buskers had the option of going to the House of Lords and then to Strasbourg to fight their case.

The full 26-page judgement was published today, and stated that the policy “would be in pursuit of a legitimate aim”.

Mrs Justice Patterson noted that the scheme “is excessive because it applies across the borough, applies to many activities which could reasonably be exempt, and applies a sweeping judgement against certain forms of street entertainment”.

But she added that “large varieties of busking are untouched, there is no restriction on the content of any busking and the fees for a standard licence are low”.

Cllr Maryam Eslamdoust, who is the council’s chairwoman of licensing, said she was pleased with the result.

She added: “The court has affirmed that regulation is not prohibition and we look forward to a responsible busking scene living alongside our residents.”

Little Hampton Gazette: Judge Backs Council On Busker Curbs

Little Hampton Gazette: Judge Backs Council On Busker Curbs
Post Date March 14, 2014
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Published on Little Hampton Gazette on 11 March 2014.

See the article on Little Hampton Gazette here.

New licensing restrictions on buskers in Camden have been declared lawful by the High Court.

Comedians Mark Thomas and Bill Bailey and musician Billy Bragg are among celebrities who took to the streets to protest over the restrictions being introduced by the local council in the north London borough after noise complaints by local residents.

Busking without a licence is to become a criminal offence in Camden punishable with fines of up to £1,000.

Bragg, who spent his early career busking around London, said licensing would hurt a fundamental aspect of UK culture.

But Mrs Justice Patterson, sitting in London, ruled today Camden Council had adopted a policy that was “both necessary and a proportionate response to the issue of busking”.

The ruling was a defeat for the Keeping Streets Live Campaign, which was ordered to pay £7,500 in legal costs.

David Wolfe QC, appearing for the campaign group, asked for permission to appeal, arguing that today’s ruling raised important legal issues and would have an impact on street entertainment across London.

The judge refused permission, which means the campaigners will now have to consider asking the Court of Appeal itself to hear their case.

The Evening Standard: High Court backs £1,000 fines for Camden buskers

The Evening Standard: High Court backs £1,000 fines for Camden buskers
Post Date March 14, 2014
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Category Blog, Camden, Press

Published by The Evening Standard on 11th March 2014.

See the Evening Standard article here.

New licensing restrictions on buskers in Camden have been declared lawful by the High Court.

Comedians Mark Thomas and Bill Bailey and musician Billy Bragg are among celebrities who protested over changes introduced after noise complaints by residents.

Busking without a licence is to become a criminal offence in Camden, punishable with fines of up to £1,000. Bragg, who used to busk in London, said licensing would hurt a fundamental aspect of British culture.

But Mrs Justice Patterson ruled today Camden Council’s policy was “both necessary and proportionate”.

The ruling was a defeat for the Keeping Streets Live Campaign, which was ordered to pay £7,500 in costs. Appeal permission was refused, meaning the campaigners must now face the Court of Appeal.