Flyposting What is 'flyposting' and why is it a problem?
'Flyposting' is the illegal display of advertising material such as posters or placards on buildings and street furniture. There are 3 types of flyposting:
- Photocopied adverts for local events such as car boot sales and bands playing in pubs.
- Large, colour posters advertising record releases and concert dates for well-known musicians and pop stars.
- Posters displayed by political organisations or pressure groups.
Flyposting is:
- Illegal - and clearing it up costs tax payers money.
- Unsightly - flyposting is a sign of a neglected neighbourhood and is associated with increased levels of crime and the fear of crime. It also discourages investment and new businesses from moving into the area.
- Unsafe - some types of flyposting, particularly placards can cause a danger to pedestrians and road users.
What can Southwark residents do about flyposting?
Report it!
The sooner you report flyposting to us the quicker we can remove it. Click here to complete the online street cleaning form or call the 24 hour hotline on 020 7525 2000. If flyposters have been pasted up on your property, we can remove it with your permission. Contact us for more information.
Report those involved with flyposting
People who put up flyposters are doing something illegal. Do not approach them - they don't want to get caught and could be violent. if you spot someone posting up flyposters, make a note of the following and contact us:
- The date, time and place where it happened
- What the flyposters looks like and how much there is
- A description of any vehicles involved and vehicle registration numbers if possible
We may try to prosecute if we have enough evidence. But you can report the crime anonymously using the reporting form and telephone number above.
What is Southwark Council doing about flyposting?
Removal
Our cleaning teams clear 100's of square metres of flyposting every year. We aim to respond to reports of fly posting within 24 hours. We also monitor flyposting 'hotspots', buildings and surfaces that are regularly targeted by flyposting companies and organisations.
We can remove any poster or placard displayed in contravention of the Advertisements Regulations by using the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and any sign or picture attached to street furniture or on the public highway using the Highways Act 1980.
Prevention and prosecution
Fly posting in Southwark is not as big as problem as it used to be thanks to the action of our Enforcement Officers. Under the London Local Authorities Act 1995 we are able to recoup the costs of fly posting removal from the companies and organisations responsible. They have to pay removal costs of £100 per poster to Southwark. Over £100,000 has been recovered so far and reports of fly posting by big commercial companies have fallen considerably.
Southwark's Enforcement Officers are now cracking down on smaller businesses that fly post. These are often pubs, clubs and small businesses advertising events and services.
We can make it more difficult for posters to be pasted onto buildings and furniture by treating them with 'anti-glue' paints. Through planning regulations, we also encourage hoarding advertising companies to make it as difficult as possible for flyposters to be pasted to their hoardings. |