Protests at Railway Stations.

[reb0118]

Are protesters allowed to protest, without permission from the relevant authorities, on railway premises, including the handing out of leaflets, under human rights legislation?

 

[AlterEgo]

No, it's trespass if there isn't permission, and a civil nuisance. The police will only attend if there is a risk of violence of breach of the police, else all you can do is ask them to leave.

 

[StephenHunter]

Are protesters allowed to protest, without permission from the relevant authorities, on railway premises, including the handing out of leaflets, under human rights legislation?

The railway byelaws would require permission for leaflet distribution:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/694aa5551a2e540ccd8a54f8/dft-railway-byelaws-amendment-2025.pdf

Except with written permission from an Operator no person on the railway shall: 8 (i) display anything for the purpose of advertising or publicity, or distribute anything; or (ii) sell or expose or offer anything for sale; or (iii) tout for, or solicit money, reward, custom or employment of any kind.

I must admit that some of the byelaws need an update in light of mobile phones, WiFi etc. because you could technically breach them by emailing a prospective employer while on the train.

 

[styles]

The railway byelaws would require permission for leaflet distribution:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/694aa5551a2e540ccd8a54f8/dft-railway-byelaws-amendment-2025.pdf

I must admit that some of the byelaws need an update in light of mobile phones, WiFi etc. because you could technically breach them by emailing a prospective employer while on the train.

Does that mean I can't wear my Coca-Cola t-shirt as well?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Does that mean I can't wear my Coca-Cola t-shirt as well?

Under

display anything for the purpose of advertising or publicity

I think that would only work if your intent was to advertise it, rather than it just being something you're wearing.

 

[styles]

Under

I think that would only work if your intent was to advertise it, rather than it just being something you're wearing.

What about if I approach the platform whispering, "Always Coca-Colaaaaaa"?

 

[Jimini]

What about if I approach the platform whispering, "Always Coca-Colaaaaaa"?

Maybe arrive on a big red HGV as well

 

[king_walnut]

The endless Palestine protests in Brighton always start in the station. I asked if this was authorised and was told that it isn't but they don't have the manpower or resources to stop it.

 

[greatkingrat]

Does that mean I can't wear my Coca-Cola t-shirt as well?

If that was the case, anyone wearing a football shirt would be banned from the railway (which some might think is a good thing!)

 

[dk1]

When ever I have seen any of this at Norwich station it’s always been right across the front car park near the traffic junction. They are allowed nowhere near the station premises.

 

[Romsey]

The protests at Dover seem to start outside Dover Priory station, which is where Kent Constabulary direct the protestors. Looking at BBC news on Saturday evening there were nearly as many locals protesting about the protest clogging up their town....
Last weekend there was apparently a significant security and BT police presence on the station. The Belmond Golden Age of Travel steam hauled train took water at Folkestone West to avoid any trouble for patrons, support crew or the tanker driver.

 

[Lytham Local]

OT, but it wasn't protestors at Manchester Vic today, it was bloody chuggers with one of them chasing after people for whatever save the carrot group they were 'representing'. They are a damned nuisance and should be kicked off the station in my opinion.

 

[StephenHunter]

OT, but it wasn't protestors at Manchester Vic today, it was bloody chuggers with one of them chasing after people for whatever save the carrot group they were 'representing'. They are a damned nuisance and should be kicked off the station in my opinion.

The ones at Mile End do it on the pavement outside the station.

 

[YorksLad12]

Despite me telling the rest of the team that they couldn't film outside Leeds Station's New Station Street entrance without permission, it being Network Rail land, they went ahead... plonked the tripod down... and were visited by two pairs of staff asking what they were doing. And quite right too. The redevelopment provides a tempting spot for protesters to gather now, as does the City Square entrance now that it's pedestrianised.

If they'd held a paper cup out and asked people for spare change, they'd have got away with it.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

No, it's trespass if there isn't permission, and a civil nuisance. The police will only attend if there is a risk of violence of breach of the police, else all you can do is ask them to leave.

Breach of the police would definitely constitute a breach of the peace!

 

[Tetchytyke]

They are a damned nuisance and should be kicked off the station in my opinion.

I’d agree with that, the station operators shouldn’t allow chuggers on the station. They’re a blessed nuisance.

They turn up at Newcastle every so often as well, demanding to know if I care about starving children or disabled dolphins or whatever. Luckily I’m moderately autistic so I have no issues whatsoever in not making eye contact and not breaking stride

 

[Drogba11CFC]

I’d agree with that, the station operators shouldn’t allow chuggers on the station. They’re a blessed nuisance.

They turn up at Newcastle every so often as well, demanding to know if I care about starving children or disabled dolphins or whatever. Luckily I’m moderately autistic so I have no issues whatsoever in not making eye contact and not breaking stride

A friend of my brother used to come up with the most outrageous reply possible, telling them that he hated children/loved injustice.

 

[CharlieSpotted]

A friend of my brother used to come up with the most outrageous reply possible, telling them that he hated children/loved injustice.

I did this once to a group ranting about how chickens were treated at KFC (etc) ...

"Yeah, but they're so delicious though!"

For the record, I am aware that some of the factories processing chickens (in particular) subject them to some really unnecessary and unpleasant treatment, frankly some of the people depicted working there must be so desensitised (or, psychopaths) to behave in the way that they do. I suspect accosting people on their way through town with an iPad ready to take Direct Debit details probably isn't the best way to solve the problem...

 

[Tetragon213]

I’d agree with that, the station operators shouldn’t allow chuggers on the station. They’re a blessed nuisance.

They turn up at Newcastle every so often as well, demanding to know if I care about starving children or disabled dolphins or whatever. Luckily I’m moderately autistic so I have no issues whatsoever in not making eye contact and not breaking stride

I have the advantage of being very outwardly foreign, so I have legitimately put on my accent more and said "no english", or telling them to go away in my other language! Surprising how often it works.

 

[Taunton]

I did this once to a group ranting about how chickens were treated at KFC

There are formal, presumably paid, advertisements on the Underground now from another of the 'animal welfare' groups, about similar, with semi-condescending comments towards those who buy the products. It's surprising, given the past history of lesser adverts being refused, that they have got through.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

At least JWs don‘t protest and are usually just quiet and have their magazine display.

 

[oldman]

A friend of my brother used to come up with the most outrageous reply possible, telling them that he hated children/loved injustice.

I was asked by a middle-aged chugger if I wanted to save the planet and replied 'Of course not', meaning 'of course I am not going to give my bank details to a random stranger' (this was before they were equipped with electronic devices), but it didn't sound quite right when it came out. However the chugger was delighted by my apparent wickedness and as I walked on I heard him self-righteously telling all his colleagues about it. I like to feel I made his day.

 

[Tetchytyke]

At least JWs don‘t protest and are usually just quiet and have their magazine display.

I’ve been known to pick up a magazine before a long train journey. Amazing how nobody wants to sit next to you when you have one of those magazines on your table

 

[styles]

I was asked by a middle-aged chugger if I wanted to save the planet and replied 'Of course not', meaning 'of course I am not going to give my bank details to a random stranger' (this was before they were equipped with electronic devices), but it didn't sound quite right when it came out. However the chugger was delighted by my apparent wickedness and as I walked on I heard him self-righteously telling all his colleagues about it. I like to feel I made his day.

I might adopt that strategy in future.

Rodders: "Here listen, could you give a couple of bob for charity?"

Del: "Yeah you know me, anything for a good cause. What's this for?"

Trig: "He's trying to save whales."

Del: "Oh no no no no no, they don't get nuffin from me. Not after the way they beat us at rugby last year."

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Monday at 12:26 ==

At least JWs don‘t protest and are usually just quiet and have their magazine display.

I remember reading about this years ago. I remember growing up they would canvass people's houses. Then one day they stopped, and chose to stand quietly with their Watchtower stands in pedestrian areas and wait for people to approach them.

According to this BBC News article from 2014 when they started the shift, they reckoned it was working, though not all JW followers agree:

The movement doesn't have figures for how many converts this part of its mission has produced. And it's emphasised that it's an addition rather than a departure from the door-to-door evangelism, but adherents are optimistic that the new tactic is making an impact.

The UK Jehovah's Witnesses say that the May issue of Awake!, with its cover line Stress - Keys to Managing It, was the most popular of the current drive.

"People were queuing up for a copy in the City [of London]," says Deep. "One woman asked if it was possible to take copies for her colleagues because she said her whole office was stressed."

But Scott Terry, a former Jehovah's Witness for 14 years and author of Cowboys, Armageddon, and The Truth: How a Gay Child Was Saved from Religion, believes that a widespread apathy towards door-to-door ministry is behind this latest approach.

"Many of the Jehovah's Witnesses I know detest door-to-door work," says Terry. "Yet they are required to turn in their time cards each month to prove that they have spent the required hours preaching. I know Jehovah's Witnesses who go to great lengths to stretch those hours by including time spent in the car, travelling to the designated neighbourhoods.

"Setting up at a train station is the easy way out. It is less confrontational than knocking on people's doors, and it is an easier way to acquire the hours needed to remain in good standing in the congregation."

The Jehovah's Witnesses' new tactic

The movement has been on a year-long drive to recruit commuters at the exits of UK train stations.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Tetragon213]

I might adopt that strategy in future.

Rodders: "Here listen, could you give a couple of bob for charity?"

Del: "Yeah you know me, anything for a good cause. What's this for?"

Trig: "He's trying to save whales."

Del: "Oh no no no no no, they don't get nuffin from me. Not after the way they beat us at rugby last year."

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Monday at 12:26 ==


I remember reading about this years ago. I remember growing up they would canvass people's houses. Then one day they stopped, and chose to stand quietly with their Watchtower stands in pedestrian areas and wait for people to approach them.

According to this BBC News article from 2014 when they started the shift, they reckoned it was working, though not all JW followers agree:

The Jehovah's Witnesses' new tactic

The movement has been on a year-long drive to recruit commuters at the exits of UK train stations.

www.bbc.co.uk

The knocking on doors tactic was more irritating than anything, and often led to some parties coming up with creative ways to get rid of them.

I may or may not have used some unorthodox tactics to deter future visits from the JWs back in my uni days.

 

[Taunton]

I remember reading about this years ago. I remember growing up they would canvass people's houses. Then one day they stopped, and chose to stand quietly with their Watchtower stands in pedestrian areas and wait for people to approach them.

According to this BBC News article from 2014 when they started the shift, they reckoned it was working, though not all JW followers agree:

The same local JW leader has been coming to our house, always neat suit and tie, sometimes with his wife, once or twice a year since we came here. We are on notably friendly first-name terms, and I occasionally see them out walking their dog and have a quick chat. Nothing about their topic however, and he's never got me to accept a Watchtower. I've told him that for persistence he far outclasses any of our sales team at the office !

 

[Kite159]

I’d agree with that, the station operators shouldn’t allow chuggers on the station. They’re a blessed nuisance.

They turn up at Newcastle every so often as well, demanding to know if I care about starving children or disabled dolphins or whatever. Luckily I’m moderately autistic so I have no issues whatsoever in not making eye contact and not breaking stride

Especially when some of them will get paid a "Finders Fee" by the charity when they get someone signing up, in some cases taking a couple of years before the charity will see a return on the investment (assuming the donation is £5 a month).

 

[RailwayRookie]

I did this once to a group ranting about how chickens were treated at KFC (etc) ...

Remember for every battery farm chicken you buy. The rest get more space....

*caveat that this is a joke and I know thats not how it works

 

[duffield]

I’d agree with that, the station operators shouldn’t allow chuggers on the station. They’re a blessed nuisance.

They turn up at Newcastle every so often as well, demanding to know if I care about starving children or disabled dolphins or whatever. Luckily I’m moderately autistic so I have no issues whatsoever in not making eye contact and not breaking stride

My favourite tactic is to head straight towards them and just as they are about to pounce making a very fast and sharp turn, leaving them addressing or leafleting thin air.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

The railway byelaws would require permission for leaflet distribution:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/694aa5551a2e540ccd8a54f8/dft-railway-byelaws-amendment-2025.pdf

I must admit that some of the byelaws need an update in light of mobile phones, WiFi etc. because you could technically breach them by emailing a prospective employer while on the train.

That's going to be interesting come 30th September to 3rd October 2027 in Aberdeen when vast swaythes of spectators rock up with T-shirts / hoodies / caps / bobble hats with either Toyota, Hyundai, Ford, Lancia, Skoda or the letters W R C plastered on them -

Image shows the 15 events planned for the FIA World Rally Championship with Rally Scotland planned to run from the 30th Sepember to 3rd October 2027.

At least JWs don‘t protest and are usually just quiet and have their magazine display.

Makes a difference to the usual "village idiot" types who usually wave a red, black, white and green flag and scream and shout at the top of their voices in places such as Hebden Bridge. Even the Plastercine propaganda was put on display in the railway station's waiting room.