Handing out leaflets in the street?

[Mr.81]

I was just wondering; are there any laws against handing out leaflets in the street?

Thanks!

[Onehourpa]

I don't think you can just stand on the street and hand out leaflets, you usually need a licence to do so. With my local council you have to fill in a form saying where you want to stand and hand out these leaflets and when you send this off to them they also require a cheque for £150.

If you check out your local council website they'll probably have some sort of information on their policy. I think the process and payment varies slightly from council to council, but regardless of where you are you do need some sort of licence I believe.

[Mr.81]

Alright, thanks for the reply!

[Moneyman]

If they stop you just move on. Dont block the pavement and dont get pushy. much better if you do it yourself with enthusiasm. They are hardly going to bother taking you to court. just try not to let too much litter drop. standing 25 yards from a bin on either side is good. Also try to have a board or a tee shirt with something similar on. that way people can just refuse if they are never going to be interested. I just hate it when you get a nice girl handing out a piece of paper and then it says golf sale or similar. i will never be in the market. you have wasted a leaflet and nobody is happy.

[Chris H]

The legislation around this is The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 (CNEA). It gives power to local authorities to control distribution of free literature in places such as town centres.

If the law says that you have to register with the council then why not do it?

[Moneyman]

because it just causes paperwork!

[cricket]

I don't think you can just stand on the street and hand out leaflets, you usually need a licence to do so. With my local council you have to fill in a form saying where you want to stand and hand out these leaflets and when you send this off to them they also require a cheque for £150.

If you check out your local council website they'll probably have some sort of information on their policy. I think the process and payment varies slightly from council to council, but regardless of where you are you do need some sort of licence I believe.

Think I'd let the wind distribute them for me! Much cheaper than paying the council and you know how people can't help themselves. They'd just pick them up to read what they say. You should get them printed so that they look like lottery tickets.:D

[Future-Babies]

I'm sure when I spoke to my local council in Reading (although it probably was about a year ago now) They said I could hand out leaflets without a charge in the street. However, if I wanted to erect a stand or display, I would then have to pay a small fee and also I think there were some health and safety standards to meet.

So hand those leaflets out... maybe just try and pick up any leaflets off the floor before you leave so as not to annoy anyone.

Good luck :)

[stopecg]

I do promo for a nightclub and we hand out leaflets ion the street all the time I have never been stopped or asked to register with the council, I suspect it is a case of how local authorities interpret the law.

It is good to pick up the dropped leaflets occasionally.

To be honest you are better off getting your leaflets in places like chippies where people can pick them up at will, street flyering has a much lower success rate.

[The Movie Booth]

When we launch our Booth's we will usually employ promotional staff to distribute flyers in and around the local area, and so far we have not had any problem with this. If you were try to distribute them inside a shopping centre for example, you would have to pay a fee for this.

As suggested before considerate non-pushy flyer distribution wouldn't be a problem usually.

[IainW]

or why not deliver them in peoples letter boxes where they will have a bit more time to read it + you're not going against any regulations if there are any.

My wife years ago set up a cleaning company and delivered flyer's in letterboxes, she was fully booked within weeks.

If you do flyer's in the street people will just chuck it, if you deliver in the house people will at least scan it with an eye.

Iain

[Mr.81]

or why not deliver them in peoples letter boxes where they will have a bit more time to read it + you're not going against any regulations if there are any.

My wife years ago set up a cleaning company and delivered flyer's in letterboxes, she was fully booked within weeks.

If you do flyer's in the street people will just chuck it, if you deliver in the house people will at least scan it with an eye.

Iain
Iain, I do that too, but I thought it would be nice to try handing them out in the street too...maybe not untill the weather gets better, though!

Thanks for all the replies guys!

[Angelo's Design]

I agree that could work the key is to make your leaflets stand out from the rest the last thing you want if for someone to put it right into the bin. Also people think by getting 500 printed they will get 20-40 new clients, I am sure you know this is not the case you may be looking at around 2-3 new clients.

Put some in local shops and ask for people to spread the word. If you would like to talk about different Aids you could try please send me a PM and we can talk it over.

Angelo