Jehovah's Witnesses with stalls in train stations

[matt_world2004]

Hi does anyone know if Jehovas witnesses with their book stands have permission to be in the station I have seen them on the inside of kings cross. But I was waiting for the bus today inside the entrance of an national rail station (warmer) and jehovas witnesses were kind of blocking the door to make sure that people were collecting their crappy books.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Jehovah's Witnesses, surely.

 

[ainsworth74]

I would expect that they would have permission as otherwise I believe they'd fall foul of Byelaw 7:

7. (2) Except with written permission from an Operator no person on the railway
shall:

(i) display anything for the purpose of advertising or publicity, or distribute anything

Perhaps email/ring Network Rail to enquire and potentially voice your dissatisfaction?

 

[Rapidash]

It's the latest attempt to lure in the unwary, as the door-knocking has had dwindling results in recent years.

Gate camping it is then! (As the Eve Online saying goes....)

 

[IanD]

Hi does anyone know if Jehovas witnesses with their book stands have permission to be in the station I have seen them on the inside of kings cross. But I was waiting for the bus today inside the entrance of an national rail station (warmer) and jehovas witnesses were kind of blocking the door to make sure that people were collecting their crappy books.

Jehovah's Witnesses, surely.

Also, do you mean Walmer or were they inside because it's warmer. I've never found them pushy even when they knock on the door. A polite no thanks usually suffices. Wish the same could be said those chuggers.

 

[ComUtoR]

Gate camping it is then! (As the Eve Online saying goes....)

Better stab up then.

 

[Tetchytyke]

They probably don't, normally when I've seen them they've carefully been *just* on the pavement.

They're at my local station. I don't get why you're angry about them though. They say hi to me, I say hi to them, they're hardly intrusive.

 

[maniacmartin]

Were the leaflets titled 'Is Satan Real?' by chance? I've also seen them at the end of London Bridge often at 06:45 (the bridge, not the station), and also on a rainy Saturday outside Oxford Circus station.

 

[Flamingo]

Just offer them your copy of "Blood Transfusion Monthly"...

 

[ValleyLines142]

Hi does anyone know if Jehovas witnesses with their book stands have permission to be in the station I have seen them on the inside of kings cross.

As long as they have seeked permission from staff to have a stall at the station then this is fine, and if they ask you whether you are interested in what they have to offer, and you are not, then a simple 'no thank you' will be fine.

But I was waiting for the bus today inside the entrance of an national rail station (warmer) and jehovas witnesses were kind of blocking the door to make sure that people were collecting their crappy books.

However, this is a different matter, and they should not (and do not) have the right to harrass you, or anyone else, in that manner. If you are a regular user at Kings Cross and they keep acting in this way, I would report them to a member of staff or even BTP.

 

[ThePannier]

Freedom to practice religion....or something like that!

I've rarely ever been 'door-knocked', I usually get stopped outside Morrison's!!

 

[Bevan Price]

Far worse in my opinion - on at least two days last week, in the subway entrance to LIverpool Lime St (Merseyrail Electric platform), there were parasites pestering people about "offers of legal services"

 

[dk1]

That's a new one. Not appeared at our locals yet thank the Lord, if you can say that haha.

 

[causton]

Spent a week commuting Wolverhampton - Birmingham and saw them every morning outside both stations - ended up waving hi to them by the end of the week! But in most other situations I politely avoid them. But they are a lot less pushy than the chuggers etc etc you get on high streets these days!

 

[91104]

There's some mad bloke who I've seen on the Metro services between Liverpool Street and Shenfield who sits there with some laminated card sticking out of a bag with some stuff about Jesus on it that I've not been able to read properly and in the past week I've seen him 'preaching' outside both Ilford and Romford stations repeating the same sentence "repent your sins and save yourself from hellfire" or something similar. Complete nutjob!!

 

[PermitToTravel]

There was one of those outside the Primark in Wembley for as long as I can remember. He remained there for almost a year after the battery on his megaphone died, but has disappeared lately.

 

[Clip]

They probably don't, normally when I've seen them they've carefully been *just* on the pavement.

at the cross where the railway ends and the councils pavement starts is a long old way from the doors.

Given how much NR tell their staff to enforce these sorts of things I highly doubt it was unofficial

 

[PermitToTravel]

at the cross where the railway ends and the councils pavement starts is a long old way from the doors.

The religion-mongers at Manchester Piccadilly have to set their stall up on the corner of Fairfield Street and London Road, ages away from the door, as the taxi rank is Network Rail's and no-go

 

[Oswyntail]

... I highly doubt it was unofficial

I agree. The JWs are a very well-organised group and would not normally chance being evicted. I always find them polite and restrained, compared with other cold callers. As others have said, and as with any religious group, if you respect them and their beliefs (not the same as agreeing or sharing any sense of belief) they generally respect you.

 

[thenorthern]

They seems to congregate on the approach outside Manchester Piccadilly station with their literature and can often block the pavement which is annoying.

While Manchester Victoria Metrolink station is closed I have noticed there have been some JWs handing out leaflets to people who walk across the tramway at the end of Balloon Street when I have walked down from Shudehill which I don't think is the safest or the best place to try and convert people.

I noticed as well outside Peterborough Station JWs are now handing out Polish watchtowers.

Its not just JWs though I have had had many Christian and Islamic groups try and covert me in railway stations and each time I have said no.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Freedom to practice religion....or something like that!

It's funny how an ideology is allowed to break laws on discrimination, hatred etc. just because it is a religion. Religion appears to have the freedom to castigate and denigrate others yet cries foul when non-religious folk call them fascists, hypocrites or anything they don't agree with.
If Nigel Farage had God on his side.............

 

[RichmondCommu]

I don't see why any of this is news worthy. Jehovah's Witnesses have been doing this kind of thing for years. Whilst I'm certainly not one of them Watch Tower is quite an interesting read so perhaps people shouldn't be quite so dismissive!

For what it's worth a JW cleans our windows (indeed he's been doing that for years) and we've never had a moments bother from him. They are just normal people who happen to believe in something. I think they get used to polite rejections! And sometimes not so polite

 

[All Line Rover]

I've never seen JWs at Kings Cross St Pancras, or any London Terminal for that matter. It seems that they stand outside tube stations (e.g. Oxford Circus), next to the entrances and exits but without getting in the way.

I have occasionally seen them on the approaches to non-London stations (e.g. Wolverhampton, already referred to above).

They aren't pushy. Unlike the obnoxious charity collectors on Tottenham Court Road (just north of Goodge Street station) who just won't take 'no' for an answer!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

For what it's worth a JW cleans our windows...

I get the impression that that is the majority profession for male members of the religion.

 

[Flamingo]

To be fair, in a previous job for a time I had a lot of contact with JW's and I always found them very nice people.

My best ever encounter was the time I was staying in a friends cottage up the middle of Wales - remote did not begin to describe it, it didn't have an address, it had a map reference (I kid you not), and could not be seen from any road - you had to cross a field to get to it, with no sign of the cottage until you crossed the brow of the hill, and no real driveway, just a field gate and a dirt track.

One morning, 10am, there is a knock on the door - you guessed it!

 

[RichmondCommu]

I get the impression that that is the majority profession for male members of the religion.

Well we've only got to know one of them! I'll say one thing though; his rates are very competitive (i.e. he's cheap!) but when he comes round in the evening to collect his money he drives a pretty expensive looking (and 14 plate) BMW. Someone in his family is earning good money!

 

[Mutant Lemming]

I don't see why any of this is news worthy. Jehovah's Witnesses have been doing this kind of thing for years. Whilst I'm certainly not one of them Watch Tower is quite an interesting read so perhaps people shouldn't be quite so dismissive!

For what it's worth a JW cleans our windows (indeed he's been doing that for years) and we've never had a moments bother from him. They are just normal people who happen to believe in something. I think they get used to polite rejections! And sometimes not so polite

I happen to live not to far from the Jehovie HQ for Europe and we no longer answer the door on a Saturday morning as they send out their novice door steppers out and about round here. Although not abusive or violent they are a pain, they do argue and in my opinion they talk abject nonsense. Sometimes I think their zealous mentality borders on mental illness. If any non religious or non 'charitable' organisation pestered people at their own homes like this there would be an uproar. Imagine Nick Griiffn and the BNP banging on your door espousing their nonsense every Saturday - well to me there is no difference. If I said I don't answer the door on a Saturday morning because of the BNP calling people would be outraged and say it's a disgrace. I find religion as repugnant as the BNP. Practice and believe in what you want but keep them off my doorstep please.

 

[RichmondCommu]

I happen to live not to far from the Jehovie HQ for Europe and we no longer answer the door on a Saturday morning as they send out their novice door steppers out and about round here. Although not abusive or violent they are a pain, they do argue and in my opinion they talk abject nonsense. Sometimes I think their zealous mentality borders on mental illness. If any non religious or non 'charitable' organisation pestered people at their own homes like this there would be an uproar. Imagine Nick Griiffn and the BNP banging on your door espousing their nonsense every Saturday - well to me there is no difference. If I said I don't answer the door on a Saturday morning because of the BNP calling people would be outraged and say it's a disgrace. I find religion as repugnant as the BNP. Practice and believe in what you want but keep them off my doorstep please.

Fair do's. With my wife being a Copper (complete with lots of helpful ideas) we have a friendly but firm notice on the door telling people that we have no interest in cold calling

However, I don't think anyone would moan at you for not answering the door because you think they might be the BNP!

 

[bicbasher]

The JW's at Charing Cross stand on The Strand on the City of Westminster pavement, rather than on NR property.

 

[Mojo]

I don't see why any of this is news worthy. Jehovah's Witnesses have been doing this kind of thing for years. Whilst I'm certainly not one of them Watch Tower is quite an interesting read so perhaps people shouldn't be quite so dismissive!

This article on the BBC website implies that it is a fairly new tactic.

The Jehovah's Witness movement has been on a year-long drive to recruit commuters at UK train stations, shopping centres and parks. It's a change of tactics, writes Sophie Robehmed.

Everybody is familiar with the Jehovah's Witnesses' standard modus operandi. Two polite people knock at the door and try and engage a householder in conversation.

The visit is often less than welcome and there are plenty of examples of comic sketches mocking the phenomenon.

But for the last year, the Christian-based religious movement has been trying a different method in the UK.

 

[Rapidash]

To be fair, if they were annoying the Wrong People To Annoy TM then you'd see a group action against them for harassment quicker than you can say 'Hello, has anyone spoken to you about g- *sound of slamming door*