As with any religion there are people out there who are keen to exploit others in the name of Sikhism, this can come in many different forms and the MPSA are working hard on exposing this dishonesty.

STREET COLLECTIONS AND HOUSE-TO-HOUSE COLLECTIONS WITHIN THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DISTRICT

A license is required by anyone who wishes to collect from house to house for charitable purposes by means of leaving an envelope at premises to be collected at a later date or by means of doorstep collecting. A permit is required to hold a street collection. This applies to the collection of money in a public place, or more specifically, a place where the public have unrestricted access for charitable purposes. It is an offence to hold a collection without one. Public places do not include railway concourses, shopping centres that close at night or supermarket entrance areas where the permission of the appropriate private authority is required.In the Metropolitan Police District the charities office at Territorial Police HQ issues licenses and permits on behalf of the Commissioner of Police.

If a local charity/organisation wishes to collect from house to house and the duration of the collection is no longer than 14 days, the charity/organisation should write to the Borough Commander (through the licensing officer) of the area in which the collection is to take place, asking for consideration to granting of a Local Certificate of Exemption.

The collectors must wear a prescribed badge or have a certificate of authority and give their name and address upon demand of a police constable. The collector must have a sealed container.Street collections are carefully allocated to ensure all the large charities have specific weeks to collect money. However, during the course of a year a number of weeks are allocated to local charities. These still require a permit and a sponsorship letter from the Mayor of the local borough in which the collection is to be held.All collections require accounts to be submitted after the collection.If you are not sure or are suspicious about the collector do not give your hard earned cash but instead call your local police station.

This leaflet is also available in Punjabi, Hindi, Gujarati & Urdu. Please contact the MPSA office for a copy to be either emailed or posted to you.