In a landmark ruling, a District Judge has awarded interim Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) against three employees of ambient media and marketing agency, Diabolical Liberties.
The company, which operates under the slogan ?Putting the word on the street?, has now been specifically banned from doing so in the London Borough of Camden. A full hearing next March will determine whether to grant full ASBOs preventing Tim Horrox, the Managing Director of Diabolical Liberties, and two employees, Dominic Murphy and James Heighway, from engaging in flyposting anywhere in England and Wales.
More commonly exercised against rowdy teenagers, ASBOs are statutory measures designed to ?protect the public from behaviour that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.? While ASBOs are civil orders, breach of ASBO conditions is a criminal offence. Diabolical Liberties, which runs poster campaigns for major brands such as FCUK, Channel 4 and The Guardian, also carries out work for small- and medium-sized arts organisations in London and nationally. The company is campaigning to introduce authorised street poster sites in London, similar to schemes operating in Cardiff, Liverpool and Glasgow where 40% of available advertising space is reserved for local arts advertising. Councillor John Thane, Camden Council?s Executive Member for Environment, said: ?Diabolical Liberties, makes a substantial profit from illegal activity and we are seeking to curb this activity. They are seeking to hold on to their profits. Their business is not about culture; it?s about commerce. It is not small theatres and struggling artists that benefit from illegal flyposting; it?s about big artists and big business.?
Camden has more live music venues than any other borough in the UK as well being home to Camden Arts Centre, Camden Peoples Theatre and the Etcetera Theatre. A spokesperson from Camden Council estimated that the Borough spends £250,000 each year removing illegal adverts. Zena Barrie, Director of the Etcetera said, ?Flyposting is illegal and upsets the local community; they shouldn?t do it. I don?t think it helps sell tickets for fringe shows in any case.? Earlier this year Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd avoided ASBO hearings by agreeing to cease flyposting in England and Wales before the matter went to court. Adrienne Merrill of Diabolical Liberties said, ?It?s a real shame that Camden Council can?t look beyond these issues to work with organisations looking to develop the local culture. A regulated poster scheme is good for culture, good for councils and good for the local community.?