This week, a “Public Space Protection Order” came into force in Birmingham city centre. It is designed to restrict the activities of buskers and street preachers. The stated aim is to respond to noise nuisance caused by their activities and prohibits the use of musical instruments and amplification within the city centre. To
This move should be of serious concern to Christians as well as to anyone who values freedom of speech and expression. It is true that noise nuisance can be a concern in the city centre. Indeed, such nuisance can come from a variety of sources and does not require amplification to become so. For example, I once encouraged a street preacher to consider that standing right outside a shop and shouting the same thing repeatedly may not be an effective witness and may rather be simply a nuisance to those working in the shop
However, the ban that has come into place is disproportionate. The response to legitimate concerns has been to blanket ban activities rather than consider how to look after the interests of all involved. A city centre is by its nature a busy, bustling noisy place. There may be aspects of that that the authorities may wish to regulate but there are surely more nuanced ways of doing so.
The risk now is that also that a precedent is set. What happens if people complain that they still find the unplugged preachers and buskers singing unaccompanied to be a nuisance? This is too easy a way to censor freedom of expression.
I have a direct interest in this issue. First we have members of our church who are involved in street evangelism, one with a team of evangelists and the other with Birmingham City Mission. I also have engaged in street evangelism, though not in the city centre over the past 15 years in the West Midlands. I would also observe that whilst I have seen some activities that could become a nuisance, I’m confident that the teams our church members are involved in are considerate and courteous in their activities
I would encourage the council to reconsider the order and consult again with those involved and particularly with church and religious leaders. I would encourage Christians in Birmingham to raise their own concerns directly with the Council as I will be doing.
In the meantime please pray for the Council and for Christians involved in Evangelism here in Birmingham.
Faithroots 