BUSKERS in Liverpool were threatened with arrest by police as top town-centre award judges made a flying visit during Light Night, it has been claimed.
Judges from Purple Flag, a national awards scheme that recognises a safe, clean and well-managed city centre in the evening, made the trip in May as thousands took to the streets for the annual cultural showcase which, this year, coincided with the opening of the new Liverpool Central Library.
Jonny Walker told buskers
to stand their groundBut police have been accused of attempting to cleanse the streets of buskers, along with beggars and nightclub touts - on the orders of Liverpool City Council - while the assessors toured the streets.
Liverpool City Council denies any involvement.
The allegations came in the wake of last week's announcement that Liverpool has not only retained its Purple Flag but is being held up as a beacon for other towns and cities to follow its night-time experience.
Assessors from the Association of Town Centre Managers gave the night time city streets a glowing report saying: “Liverpool is a vibrant city with much to do. At all times the assessors felt safe and welcomed. There was a good mix of early, mid and late night entertainment and something for the entire family.
It went on: “Policing in Liverpool was visible without being overbearing.” However street entertainer Jonny Walker, who runs the campaigning Association of Street Artists and Performers, strongly disagrees.
Culture
He told Liverpool Confidential: On the night of May 17, I was performing at Mello Mello as part of Light Night. Just after I finished playing I received calls from buskers that they were being told to pack up and go. I immediately made my way down to Church Street and set up my stuff.
“Two police officers approached me. I asked them whether it was true that all buskers were being moved on. They confirmed that they had been told by senior officers, acting on the instructions of the council, to move on 'all buskers, beggars, canvassers and club promoters' because the city was being assessed that night what they described as 'a city of culture award'.
“They said they were not happy about being asked to move buskers on but that was what they had been asked to do.”
Another regular entertainer, who did not wish to be named, said: “I was on my regular city centre pitch on Light Night, between 6pm and 7pm. There were about 20 spectators around me. Suddenly I was confronted by police officers. They told me to stop performing immediately. One officer said, It's not just you it's all the buskers. Tonight is a very big night for Liverpool. If you don't stop playing and move on we will have to arrest you.
"I spoke to other buskers, who had been told the same thing."
Legal
Some acts did oblige and went home, but many more, on Mr Walker's instructions, stood their ground.
More and more people
are busking in Liverpool“I had spoken to David Kirwan, my solicitor, who had agreed to provide legal support to buskers,” Mr Walker said.
“I asked the police officers to inform their commander that there was no proper lawful authority for them to use against buskers and that I had informed the busking community not to move on if told to by a police officer and instead to politely stand their ground.”
He went on: “I later wrote to Purple Flag to inform them of what happened on Light Night and to seek their reassurance that such police action was not at their request. I waited for over a month for a reply which stated that 'Purple Flag welcomes Liverpool’s active support for street performers which regards them as an important part of the City’s make up and vibrancy'.
"This late response was unconvincing and there remain unanswered questions about the way in which public resources were used to conduct a clampdown on buskers on a night that was meant to be a celebration of the cultural life of the city.”
However, Liverpool City Council says it did not sanction the police actions. Graham Holland, who runs the Liverpool Acoustic events, wrote to Deputy Mayor Paul Brant for clarification, who echoed the following comments from Mike Cockburn, city centre manager for Liverpool City Council.
Mr Cockburn said: “This action was taken without consultation to any council officer prior and those working the Purple Flag assessment were unaware that the action had been taken.
David Kirwan: He da man“The police have explained that they took the action because they were unhappy with (in their view) the aggressive begging style busking that a number were adopting to people visiting the Light Night attractions.
“Unfortunately it appears that Jonnie Walker got caught up in this, however the police are clear that later on in the evening regular buskers were not approached by the police.
“The police were also taking action against street begging and club touting/flyering (Council’s established bylaw) but this was with the full agreement of the City Centre Management Team and other agencies such as the Street Nuisance Team.”
Liverpool Confidential asked Liverpool City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) if it had any involvement and a spokesman said: “Police were not instructed by the council to do anything that night. Further, the team with the Purple Flag judges were unaware of the incidents that have been described to you. “
Merseyside Police were also asked for comment but so far none has been forthcoming.
