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Nottingham anti-begging posters banned by advertising authority | Nottingham anti-begging posters banned by advertising authority |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Anti-begging posters published by a council have been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for "reinforcing negative stereotypes". | Anti-begging posters published by a council have been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for "reinforcing negative stereotypes". |
Nottingham City Council came under fire for the posters, which said money given to beggars would be used on drugs, alcohol or fraud. | Nottingham City Council came under fire for the posters, which said money given to beggars would be used on drugs, alcohol or fraud. |
The ASA said they were likely to cause offence and "portrayed all beggars as disingenuous". | The ASA said they were likely to cause offence and "portrayed all beggars as disingenuous". |
The council said it might appeal against the decision. | The council said it might appeal against the decision. |
More than 2,000 people signed a petition criticising the council for "vilifying" the homeless with the messages "begging: watch your money go to a fraud" and "watch your money go up in smoke". | More than 2,000 people signed a petition criticising the council for "vilifying" the homeless with the messages "begging: watch your money go to a fraud" and "watch your money go up in smoke". |
The council reworded the posters for a second phase of the campaign, but one of these was banned. | |
The ASA investigated after seven people complained the posters portrayed homeless people in a derogatory manner and implied that all homeless people were engaged in criminal and anti-social behaviour. | The ASA investigated after seven people complained the posters portrayed homeless people in a derogatory manner and implied that all homeless people were engaged in criminal and anti-social behaviour. |
The authority said the language used in the adverts "portrayed all beggars as disingenuous and undeserving individuals that would use direct donations for irresponsible means". | The authority said the language used in the adverts "portrayed all beggars as disingenuous and undeserving individuals that would use direct donations for irresponsible means". |
'Serious message' | 'Serious message' |
It added: "We further considered the ads reinforced negative stereotypes of a group of individuals, most of whom were likely to be considered as vulnerable, who faced a multitude of issues and required specialist support." | It added: "We further considered the ads reinforced negative stereotypes of a group of individuals, most of whom were likely to be considered as vulnerable, who faced a multitude of issues and required specialist support." |
The council said the posters were not about homeless people and claimed most people who beg do not sleep on the streets. | The council said the posters were not about homeless people and claimed most people who beg do not sleep on the streets. |
Councillor Jon Collins, leader of the Labour run authority, said he was considering calling for a review of the decision. | Councillor Jon Collins, leader of the Labour run authority, said he was considering calling for a review of the decision. |
He said: "The posters needed to be hard-hitting to get such a serious message across effectively. There's no point in running a campaign that no-one is going to take notice of." | He said: "The posters needed to be hard-hitting to get such a serious message across effectively. There's no point in running a campaign that no-one is going to take notice of." |
In 2004, the council was told to withdraw similar posters because there was not enough evidence to back up its claims. | In 2004, the council was told to withdraw similar posters because there was not enough evidence to back up its claims. |
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