We have been made aware that there has been an accusatory social media post referencing our BID Support Officer and a busker/performer on the High Street. We have responded to the originator of the post and are communicating with them. In the interim, Sutton MET Police officers have been made aware of the post and because of its nature have addressed this with the performer and with our BID Support Officer. No formal complaint has been made and by way of direct communication, the concern raised by the performer has been addressed immediately.
In the rare occasion a complaint is made to the BID about any service or project we deliver, we investigate, review, and respond to it in line with our policies and procedures and in the proper way. All complaints are taken seriously and acted upon. We do not, however, respond to or engage in social media trials and judgement. An image can tell a thousand stories, context is important as words used can and do matter.
We wish to be clear that the Business Improvement District are not acting to remove buskers from the High Street. We are not operating any form of enforcement officer and do not issue fines. We contract a licensed SIA response to our businesses and provide them with additional security support to ensure they can operate safely, without obstruction and at less risk from business crime and ASB. Our BID Support Officers have been working for the last two years, 6 days per week, throughout the pandemic and at increased risk to ensure a safe space for visitors and staff who work in our businesses. This service is a valued asset to the BID and our business members and offers much needed assistance and response as and when issues occur.
Part of the role is to assist businesses with issues of noise and obstruction which can sometimes be caused by busking directly outside premises. There is no law against busking and nor would we enforce it. We approach upon receipt of a complaint, introduce ourselves, explain the issue, and ask the performer either reduce the sound level or move to another location to prevent obstruction and further issue. Alternative locations are always suggested but at no point do we ‘order’ people to leave the High Street or not to perform, nor do we enforce thereafter. We monitor the number of performances on the High Street and the locations daily to manage obstruction or issue.
The engagement with the performer referenced in the post has been limited to once or twice over the last few months because direct complaint about levels of noise has been received from businesses, procedure was followed and on engagement volume levels we reduced. In all instances she continued to perform without further engagement.
There was a question of footage being taken of this individual without her consent. To be clear, we do not film individuals through mobile devices. A Single photograph is taken of busking locations not the individuals themselves and not for any other purpose other than reporting areas of performance to our office, we use images for ease and speed of reporting. The image shown on social media is of our BID Support Officer reporting the location of a performer. Not recording footage as has been stated.
However, we appreciate a simple act like this can be misconstrued and that this was the concern the performer had raised. In response, we have instructed both BID Support Officers to provide description and location without images to avoid any misinterpretation of intent in the future.
Our BID Support Officers have body cameras to record interactions where it is necessary for their safety and the safety of the public. Any images recorded relating to engagement from criminal activity or crime reporting are shared with appropriate authorities and deleted within specified time periods thereafter, no other footage is kept or stored. No footage was recorded via this method of the performer.
Our BID Support Officers have our branding on their uniform and on their communications radio. They also carry with them information for our office should someone wish to communicate a query, complaint, or concern directly to us. They provide this information as and when asked and we are always happy to respond.
We hope this information adds some context for those concerned by what was shared.
Further information about the BID and the work we do in the Town Centre can be found here: www.enjoysutton.co.uk
Communications to us can be made directly to info@enjoysutton.co.uk
Successful Sutton Business Improvement District/Enjoy Sutton
