Council suspends busking in Leicester Square following court ruling

Westminster City Council has suspended two busking performance pitches in Leicester Square in order to comply with a magistrates’ court ruling that a statutory nuisance exists and is likely to recur from street performers.

In a case between media firm Global Radio, which has offices in Leicester Square, and Westminster City Council, a district judge ordered the local authority to stop the nuisance that is caused by “noise from the playing of music by buskers playing in Leicester Square”.

The City of London Magistrates’ Court issued an abatement order against the council, requiring it to abate the statutory nuisance consisting of noise from the playing of music by buskers in Leicester Square and prevent the recurrence of that statutory nuisance.

All licensed performers working in the area will have to comply with the suspension in Leicester Square from Thursday next week (17 April).

Anyone who performs in the affected area may face enforcement that includes a fine, equipment being seized, or even their licence being taken from them.

Cllr Matt Noble said: “Street performers are a much-loved part of our city’s identity, but we also have to balance this with a duty to protect residents and businesses. The court ruling gives us no choice—we now have a legal obligation to act.

“This is categorically not a ban on street performers in Westminster. Our next step is to comply with the ruling by suspending street performance pitches in Leicester Square, consider the court ruling and find a fair solution.”

The council said it is exploring its grounds of appeal and in due course, exploring any appropriate revisions to the busking and street entertainment licensing regime, such as pitch locations, licence and pitch terms and conditions, and the wider council policy for this regime.

Adam Carey