Campaign for Freedom in Everyday Life

North Yorkshire Council is wrong to ban political stalls from its markets - a de facto ban across the region. Street stalls expose political groups to heckling, disagreement and support, keeping them connected to public opinion as council chambers, party machinery and social media do not.

TOMORROW outside the Rotunda, 2pm - protest against the Birmingham busking ban. A local busker will play on the corner where music has been banned for over a year. The penalty is about to go up to £500. Join us! Bring back the music!

For over a year, playing any musical instrument has been banned in the centre of Birmingham. The on-the-spot fine is about to go up to £500. We are gathering to protest against this ban, outside the Rotunda from 2pm on Wednesday 4 November. There will be some busking and some short speeches. The event is organised by Campaign for Freedom in Everyday Life and Keep Streets Live Please share as widely as possible! Link in the comments...

Some of the Community Protection Notices case studies from our recent report...

Councils issued nearly 25,000 Community Protection orders last year, against dinosaurs, messy gardens, bunting and 'staring'. The on-the-spot fine is about to rise to £500.

At last, @ukhomeoffice has banned ‘payment per fine’ and other corrupt enforcement practices This should end the racket of private companies incentivised to fine homeless people for begging, or people for swearing or feeding the birds Important new guidance is result of a decade of campaigning - and recent victories in the Lords by @TimClementJone1 and @Fox_Claire

The Community Protection Notice allows an official to stand on your doorstep and write out a law for you. It means it’s a crime to do something that someone else doesn’t like.

Nearly 25,000 Community Protection Orders issued in past year - for offences such as messy gardens. Councils are using criminal powers to order residents to silence their garden fountains or take down bunting. This is criminalisation on the basis of taste.

Volunteers who restored a community park in Durham have been sent a letter from the council threatening legal action. This shows how councils have a habit of obstructing people trying to do the right thing or to do good. Often it is the volunteers who are improving an area who are blocked by red tape and told that they have no right to do it, or that their work is a safety risk....

A man who restored graves at his local cemetery – which he did to help his mental health after he lost his dad and best friend to suicide – has been threatened with a legal order banning him from the site unless he stopped. The council says he needs risk assessments and health and safety certificates.