New leaflet laws - anyone know what they are?

davethemagicweasel "a joke without a punchline"
Posts: 251 Joined: 14-11-05 Location: Birmingham, Sheffield, UK
Submitted by davethemagicweasel on 23 October, 2006 - 16:25.

I've heard it mentioned a few times lately that there's new laws about handing out leaflets. That you have to put your name and address on them.

But, does anyone know if thats for all leaflets, or is it just if you're leafletting on private property?

rkn
Posts: 7651 Joined: 17-07-06 Location: London
23 October, 2006 - 16:28

Sounds odd! is this becauseof islamic fundie stuff?

Joseph K. "the thinking man's idiot"
Posts: 8532 Joined: 14-03-06 Location: Brighton
23 October, 2006 - 17:13

i *think* all 'publications' require a name and address for libel purposes (but i've never heard of a leafletter getting comeback for this not being done).

i also remember something about leafletting laws - i think it's the SOCPA act criminalising 'inciting someone to do something they are not obliged to do or to stop doing something they are obliged to do' - search george monbiot's site (monbiot.com), i think he wrote an article on it.

davethemagicweasel "a joke without a punchline"
Posts: 251 Joined: 14-11-05 Location: Birmingham, Sheffield, UK
23 October, 2006 - 19:22

Right, cheers

If anyone's interested I found this.

Joseph K. "the thinking man's idiot"
Posts: 8532 Joined: 14-03-06 Location: Brighton
23 October, 2006 - 19:24

thats the article i was thinking of, glad my clue wasn't too cryptic tongue

madashell "KSW, LOL"
Posts: 3112 Joined: 19-06-06 Location: Merseyside
26 October, 2006 - 20:18

IIRC, leaflets calling for a boycott are technically illegal under economic sabotage laws. Though as far as I'm aware, there's only ever been one sucessful prosecution for economic sabotage, and that was some AR bod putting superglue in locks and various other acts of actual physical sabotage.

M&S have had at least one group of people ASBO'd for leafletting outside their stores and all.