A Sheffield City Council councillor had called for street preachers to be banned
Much of the street preaching takes place on The Moor in Sheffield city centre
A petition has been launched urging Sheffield City Council to conduct a “fair and evidence-based review” after a councillor called for street preachers to be banned.
Cllr Laura Moynahan had called for street preaching on The Moor, a major shopping street in Sheffield city centre, to be banned as she doesn’t “want somebody shouting at me that I’m doomed and I’ll go to hell”.
Council director of customer experience and communities Tom Smith said the council already had powers available to tackle nuisance noise, adding that bringing in new rules needed careful consideration due to the possible impact on events and entertainment that the council wanted to run.
A petition has now been launched urging the council to carefully consider restricting street preachers. Campaign group UNITY UK and organiser Wayne Walton said: “Imagine walking through Sheffield’s vibrant city centre, enriched by the diverse voices and cultures that make our community unique. For years, street preachers have contributed to this atmosphere, sharing messages of hope, peace, and reflection. However, the practices that uphold these expressions might soon be jeopardised if Sheffield City Council proceeds with actions that could restrict or criminalise amplified street preaching.”
Wayne said street preaching is a “crucial element of public religious expression” and warned restricting it without consideration “could deeply affect those who chreish their ability to express their beliefs openly”. The petition added: “We do not stand against addressing legitimate amenity concerns, but we urge the Council to find cooperative, proportionate solutions that safeguard both the city’s public amenity and its residents’ fundamental rights.
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“We advocate for a fair and evidence-based review of public space usage regulations. It is imperative that any decision made is balanced and inclusive, ensuring that while the city’s ambience is preserved, diverse religious expressions are not stifled. Hastily crafted policy changes could lead to legally vulnerable bans, which might face challenges in courts, wasting valuable resources and impacting the community’s cohesion badly.
“By pausing these actions, the Council can engage with community members, religious groups, legal experts, and other stakeholders to create an informed, equitable plan. Let’s demand that the Sheffield City Council respects the rights of all its inhabitants while keeping our public spaces welcoming and orderly.”
One supporter of the petition, Stephane, said: “Whatever happened to basic principles, like freedom of speech? Public speaking and public debate have been behind the many great movements which have won the freedoms we currently enjoy and which we need to work to protect.”
Mr Smith said he would report back to the council.
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