Poppy sellers warned – don’t shake the tins.

Poppy sellers from the Royal British Legion have been banned from shaking their collection tins in case they are seen as a ‘public menace’. Asking anyone if they want to buy one and even approaching people have also been declared illegal. Instead volunteers have been told they must remain still and silent or face being removed from their stands or prosecuted.

This is despite it being within the law for ‘chuggers’ – charity workers who are often likened to muggers hassling people for money on high streets – to do the same. They ask people to donate from their bank accounts rather than giving cash directly. The rules for poppy sellers, which have been drawn up by the Institute of British Fundraising but are enforced by local councils, state that it is illegal for collectors to ‘harass people’ or act in a way that could be seen as ‘aggressive. We have all been subject to this at some stage – those hawkers who stop you as you pass, I have even had several grab me by the sleeve as I try to go around them!

Poppies are only sold for a few weeks each year – let’s support the cause give these poor poppy sellers a break.

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