The Act Commentary on Sections Section 48: Restrictions on conducting collections in a public place
188.This section sets out the restrictions on collecting in a public place. Subsection (1) provides that a collection in a public place cannot be undertaken unless the organisation (a) holds a public collections certificate (granted under section 52) and (b) has obtained a permit from the relevant local authority (granted under section 59).
189.Subsection (2) exempts from these requirements collections in a public place which are local short-term collections, provided for by section 50.
190.Subsection (3) provides that where a promoter undertakes a collection in a public place, other than an exempt local short-term collection, without a public collections certificate and a permit the promoter is guilty of an offence and is liable for a fine of up to level 5 on the standard scale (currently £5,000).