Flyposting - reporting and removal
Flyposting is generally taken to be the 'display of advertising material on buildings and street furniture without the consent of the owner'. Flyposting can be divided into three broad types, each with their own characteristics and problems of control:
- Adverts primarily for local events: Often photocopies put up in large numbers on a regular basis. These may advertise events such as bands playing in pubs, or car-boot sales. They may be attached to lamp-posts, railings and street furniture or pasted on buildings.
- Posters advertising products of large organisations: Put up by professional poster 'companies'. These are usually large, high quality, colour posters, such as for record releases. They are often pasted on vacant buildings and telephone boxes.
- Posters displayed by pressure groups or political bodies: These are generally ad hoc and sporadic with no clear pattern to their location.
What are the laws against flyposting?
Flyposting is illegal and those responsible can be prosecuted through the magistrates' courts. Where an offence is proven fines of up to £1,000 per poster can be issued and, in the case of a continuing offence, £40 for each day during which the offence continues after conviction.
Preventing Flyposting
Using particular site treatments make it more difficult to stick posters on the treated surface, or to make it easier for the posters to be removed. Some of these take the form of 'anti-glue' paints. The most commonly used coatings are treatments, which, by effectively roughening or stippling the surface, deter its use for flyposting. Building site hoardings provide an extensive flat and empty surface. To avoid flyposting on these surfaces, building companies and property owners can be encouraged through planning conditions to use a slatted hoarding.
We have a statutory duty to keep the borough clean. Fly posting is unsightly and if posters are not removed, they slowly degrade, becoming more unsightly, creating litter. In addition, the businesses involved are gaining an unfair advantage over their law abiding competitors by not paying for advertising space.
How do we stop it?
Flyposting requires a Notice to be served on the venue advertised requiring removal within 48 hours. Where a flyposter is considered to be a hazard the poster can be removed without Notice. Where a venue does not comply with a Notice, or continues to flypost prosecution action can be taken. Anyone caught physically affixing a poster can be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice.