Camden council seeks Asbo ruling against music moguls

3 Jun 04
Camden council has stepped up its campaign against record industry giants' illegal fly-posting by seeking an interim court order preventing companies from flouting the law while it awaits a landmark decision on antisocial behaviour orders.

04 June 2004

Camden council has stepped up its campaign against record industry giants' illegal fly-posting by seeking an interim court order preventing companies from flouting the law while it awaits a landmark decision on antisocial behaviour orders.

The London borough also told Public Finance that the cost to taxpayers of removing fly-posting by firms such as Sony and BMG has reached around £1m over the past four years. 'This is prohibitive. In effect, our taxpayers are paying for these companies to advertise,' a spokeswoman said.

Meanwhile, the Home Office, which last year strengthened laws surrounding the use of Asbos, provisionally backed the council.

Camden revealed on June 1 that it is seeking the orders – usually granted by courts to curb unruly behaviour – against advertising executives at Sony and BMG because, it claims, the firms have repeatedly ignored calls to stop fly-posting. If Camden succeeds in obtaining the orders, company executives could face up to five years in jail if such activities continue.

The council will find out on June 14 if its applications will be granted, but an interim court order has been sought to prevent firms from putting up posters on shop hoardings and pillar boxes in the event of an appeal.

Although the Home Office cannot comment on individual cases, a spokeswoman said: 'We support local authorities such as Camden who are doing all they can on behalf of their residents, businesses and visitors to create a clean and safe environment.'

Louise Casey, director of the department's Anti-Social Behaviour Unit, said fly-posting helped 'foster an environment where crime and antisocial behaviour can thrive'.

Sony and BMG were unavailable for comment.

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