Busking in Leicester Square, a renowned tourist destination in London, has been suspended indefinitely following a court ruling that deemed the performances detrimental to local office workers. The City of London Magistrates' Court has ordered the cessation of street entertainment in the area after district judge John Law characterised the situation as "psychological torture," particularly due to amplified music played at excessive volumes.
Effective from Thursday, Westminster City Council has complied with this decision by removing performance pitches and halting all busking activities. The ruling stems from complaints lodged by employees at Global Radio, which houses popular stations like LBC, Heart, and Classic FM. Workers reported that the noise levels had become intolerable, forcing some to seek refuge in cupboards or wear headphones to drown out the disturbances.
In his statement regarding the ruling, Judge Law pointed out that while noise volume was the primary concern, the issue was made worse by the repetitive nature and poor quality of some performances. He referenced a well-known aspect of psychological torture, stating, "the use of repetitive sounds is a well-publicised feature of unlawful but effective psychological torture techniques." This ruling comes after numerous complaints about busking going unaddressed by the council, which cited logistical challenges due to their office's distant location from the square.
Among the affected buskers is Chris Harvey, who has been performing in Leicester Square for eight years. He shared that performers typically have a 45-minute window to showcase their talents and may inadvertently repeat songs frequently during their sets. Another street performer, Jake G, highlighted that some of the issues raised in the complaints were linked to unlicensed buskers who disregard the council’s regulations, including performing past a designated 9pm curfew.
Leicester Square has long been a vibrant hub for street entertainment, with buskers playing a range of music for both locals and tourists. However, tensions between performers and local businesses have escalated, leading to this significant crackdown on busking activities in one of London’s busiest areas.
Source: Noah Wire Services