New crackdowns have come into force in Birmingham city centre amid concerns over an environment of ‘chaos’.

Two orders were introduced this month in a move focusing on behaviour in certain streets, from busking to illegal street trading and peddling. Both are set to be in place until August 2028.

One is designed to tackle noise from activities like busking and street preaching. It bans the use of amplification equipment, as well as musical instruments, in certain areas in the heart of the city.

The other addresses illegal street trading, peddling, charity collectors and more.

Birmingham Council has said there were fears such activities contributed to an “environment of harassment and lack of control” in the city centre.

One PSPO bans the use of amplification equipment, musical instruments or other items used as musical instruments within the relevant areas.

It covers noise associated with busking, street entertaining, street preaching and public speaking affecting residents and businesses within the restricted area.

The other order prohibits:

  • Street trading and obstruction of the public highway – that is, unless the relevant person has appropriate consent or lawful authority issued by the council.
  • Peddling goods or services.
  • Soliciting for the completion of commercial or charity subscriptions without appropriate consent/licence […] issued by the council.”
  • Soliciting for cash or digital donation for commercial or charity gain – unless the person has the appropriate consent or licence.
  • Distributing any materials, free literature or samples. This applies whether it’s for their own commercial gain or for that of another person or organisation – unless they have the appropriate prior permission of the council.

Registered charities, religious organisations and distributors of leaflets for political purposes are exempt from the last prohibition unless they carry out these activities in a manner that obstructs or impedes the passage of any other person on the highway.

The order designed to tackle ‘excessive noise levels’ covers New Street, Temple Street, Cannon Street, Needless Alley and part of Waterloo Street.

The other PSPO covers Victoria Square, New Street and parts of High Street, Temple Street and Edgbaston Street near the Bullring.

The Labour-run council has said ‘excessive noise levels’ are impacting residents and landlords trying to let properties.

A number of businesses in the city centre have also backed the PSPO plans and claimed city centre busking was impacting staff wellbeing and driving away customers.

One employee at a shop claimed “prolonged exposure” to noise from a busker had led to headaches and stress among staff.

“The door is closed due to the excess volume meaning the shop is incredibly hot,” they said. “Our mental health is suffering immensely due to the constant noise pollution.”

One person, who works at a business in New Street, described the amount of buskers performing outside as “ridiculous”.

“This disturbs our everyday working due to the loudness,” they said. “Often we can just about hear customers engaging in conversation with us.

“Due to the heavy number of buskers, numerous colleagues suffer with headaches and migraines.”

But there were warnings from a busker that Birmingham risked becoming the country’s “least friendly city” for street performances due to the restrictions.

There has also been political backlash, with Liberal Democrat councillor Deborah Harries saying: “There must be better ways than this absolute hammer to crack a nut.”

A number of buskers have said compromises could be reached, with one suggesting the council adopted a model similar to that of Busk in London with respect to basic licensing.

But the council’s director of regulation and enforcement Sajeela Naseer said that London had a “specific piece of legislation which enables it to have a licensing scheme”.

“Birmingham doesn’t have that legislation,” she said. “There is no quick and easy answer to these issues and we need to balance the rights of residents and businesses against those who wish to make music and other amplified noise in the city centre.”

“The council is not considering introducing this PSPO without reason,” a spokesperson for the authority added earlier this year.

“We have received a significant and consistent number of complaints from both residents and businesses that there are too many people causing noise in the street and despite being asked to moderate their noise levels, there has been no respite for the affected people.”

The other PSPO proposal came amid concerns that visitors to Birmingham were “frequently approached” by people either selling goods or services, handing out free literature or collecting for charity or commercial reasons.

The council  said there were fears of a general sense of “chaos, shabbiness and threat” in the city centre.