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BERR publishes research report on street trading and pedlary

DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM News Release (2009/29) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 10 February 2009

The Department for Business today published an independent research report on street trading and certified pedlary in Great Britain.

While the report, conducted by Durham University, found no evidence that pedlars pose a problem on a national scale, it suggested that current laws regulating street trading and pedlary could potentially be improved by:

* National guidance on the meaning and application of the current arrangements, which contain ambiguities and vary across Great Britain;

* Modernsing the Pedlars Act, e.g. updating and standardising the pedlars' certificate to enable easier identification of genuine certificates; and

* A more flexible enforcement regime, including less burdensome options to criminal prosecution (e.g. fixed penalty notices).

Welcoming the report, Consumer Affairs Minister Gareth Thomas said:

"I commissioned this research in order to gain a fuller understanding of the current situation and whether there is a case for change.

"My Department will now begin work towards a full public consultation on national guidance and options for possible legislative change to ensure we're striking the right balance between the interests of business, consumers and pedlars."

The report, 'Street Trading and Pedlary in Great Britain: a report of research into the application and perception of local authority controls and pedlar legislation', is available at: http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/consumers/business/market-trading/page46738.html

Notes for Editors:

1. The project was undertaken by St. Chad's College, University of Durham, over summer and autumn 2008. The research, the first comprehensive assessment of street trading activity and legislation, gathered views and evidence from a wide range of stakeholders, including local authorities, the police, street traders, pedlars, trade bodies and consumer organisations.

2. The Department commissioned the research partly in response to a number of Local Authorities seeking further powers to regulate trading and pedlary in their streets. In addition, Dr. Brian Iddon MP brought a Private Member's Bill on street trading before Parliament in the 2007-8 Session.

3. Given the number of Private Bills, the Department undertook to examine whether national legislative change is needed. The first stage of this work was the project whose findings are being published today.

4. In England and Wales, street trading is regulated under Schedule IV of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982. Pedlary in England and Wales is regulated under the Pedlars Acts 1871 and 1881.