PEOPLE in the North-East are famous for their generosity of spirit. Despite austerity cutbacks, high levels of unemployment and the rising cost of living, Northern folk are always among the first to respond to appeals on behalf of the needy and weak.

But this benevolence is open to abuse by street collectors who don’t work for a legitimate charity but play on the public’s sympathy by asking for a donation to a worthy cause.

Street collecting is one of the most effective fundraising methods in a charity’s armoury.

Despite concerns about so-called charity muggers, people hand over millions in donations to street collectors every year.

Genuine charities are registered with the Charity Commission which polices stringent regulations on their conduct and transparency.

Before they can rattle a tin on the High Street they are legally obliged to obtain a special street collection permit from a local council.

Private street collectors do not have to obtain a street collection permit. They can get by with a simple pedlar’s certificate, which costs £12.25 and is valid throughout England and Wales for a period of 12 months.

Traditionally, pedlars sold their wares doorto-door under laws drawn up in 1871, but recently the numbers operating in town centres have grown, prompting concern that they enjoy an unfair advantage over local traders who have to pay business rates and insurance.

They also enjoy an advantage over legitimate charities.

They don’t have to submit annual accounts to the Charity Commission; they don’t have to provide details of income and expenditure and they don’t have to publish details of the officers and officials who run them.

Private street collections for good causes are not illegal, but it’s only fair to make such private enterprises abide by the same rules on transparency as our charities.