Woman's £100 fine for 'unauthorised' table cancelled

A council has cancelled a fine given to a woman for setting up a camping table in Leicester city centre after she refused to pay it.

Heather Rawling was issued with a £100 penalty by Leicester City Council under rules to prevent anti-social behaviour on 31 May 2025, while she was campaigning against local public service cuts.

Rawling, a Socialist Party member, was using the table to display leaflets opposing city council cuts and refused to pay, arguing the authority was trying to stifle political protest.

Rawling said she was prepared to risk being taken to court rather than pay up but the council wrote to her on Tuesday to say it had reviewed her case and withdrawn the penalty.

In a letter seen by the BBC, the council said it had taken the decision after considering advice from its legal team.

However, it said Rawling should apply for a licence to use the table in the city centre in the future because it represented an "unauthorised structure" under a public spaces protection order (PSPO) introduced in April last year.

The council had warned Rawling, 73, she faced a £1,000 penalty, if successfully prosecuted.

But it also said it had reviewed the PSPO after concerns were raised by "a few" individuals about some aspects of the order

"I feel good they have cancelled it because I'm not at risk of getting a criminal record," Rawling said.

"But at the same time the council wants to have its cake and eat it. They won't prosecute but they want the PSPO to stand. They are too scared to test it in court."

"I didn't do this for me," Rawling added.

"This was for everyone's human right to campaign in the city centre."

The letter sent to Rawling said the council had complied with the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and "had particular regard to the articles 10 and 11 of the Human Rights Convention relating to the rights of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly".

The letter added: "The Public Space Protection Order was introduced to enable the council to manage the use of the public space within the city centre by tackling behaviours which were having a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those using, working or living in the city centre.

"Restrictions in the order are aimed at tackling these types of behaviours. Of relevance in your case is the restriction relating to the use of structures such as gazebos, tents, marquees, tables, temporary stalls, promotional flags and banners.

"The unregulated use of these items can cause nuisance and obstruction, and it is essential that the city council manages their use."

The council's letter advised her to apply for a licence if she wanted to put the table up in the city centre in the future.

"I'm not going to do that," Rawling said.

"My small table wasn't causing a nuisance or obstruction. I've been doing this for decades and it hasn't been a problem."

She said she still wanted the element of the PSPO related to an unauthorised structures to be removed from the PSPO.

She said she would consider putting the table up again without permission "to see what the council will do".

In May last year, a month after the PSPO for Leicester was introduced, a number of groups - including unions and political parties - said they feared the the new rules could "constitute an unjustified limit on their democratic rights" because the order banned "unauthorised structures" such as banners, stalls and tables.

Leicester city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby previously told the BBC: "There's absolutely nothing in the PSPO that prevents people from going out and trying to persuade people on political matters - if they do it without a table or gazebo or loud speaker."

A council spokesperson said: "We have listened to feedback from a few individuals who have raised concerns about some aspects of the order, including the clarity of the rules and the processes involved.

"With nearly 12 months of monitoring and evaluation now complete, we have reviewed the PSPO and identified areas where guidance can be clearer and more visible.

"Revised guidance will be published on our website in April which will provide clearer information on the process for booking event spaces and restrictions under the PSPO."

The council said it had issued 14 penalties for unauthorised temporary structures in the city centre since April 2025, and that none of the cases had proceeded to prosecution.

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