Can I get arrested if I....?

Question

.... do a chalk drawing on the pavement?

I'd really like to go and do some street art in London this weekend, a little experiment of mine...

Just wondering if I'll need an overnight bag.... I hear her majesty's hotels don't give you those little personal hygeine freebies....

Answer 1

you will be fine, it is done all the time in London, you will not get arrested for that, they will just tell you to clean it up, enjoy your trip, all the best

Answer 2

As with most laws in this country it depends very much on what sort of mood the copper is when he / she comes along however you do have being female on your side which tends to be a get out of jail free card when it comes to the police ;-)

As someone said above, if you want to do it, tape some paper / canvas down and draw on that .. then if they object you can simply pick it up and move on - also has the bonus of not losing your work :)

Answer 3

If you are going to make something (ie money out of it) then you may need a licence. In fact ring the local council, as if you don't, then you could be arrested for causing non-permanent criminal damage. T H A T I S A F A C T

Answer 4

Pavement artists tend to have a fold up sort of canvas use these days,they tape it down, then when they get moved on they just take it with them! Thinking about it I haven't seen the one that used to do it in our town centre for a while - he did some exceptional stuff as well! The police never moved him on - people really appreciated it!

You used to see a lot in London, one of those things that just vanished!

Good luck, if your works good you shouldn't get locked up!!!

Answer 5

I don't think it's a crime to draw on the pavement with chalk as it will wash off in the rain, which wuld make it seem as what you're thinking of doing is pointless...but, anywaaaay, you just ave to ask permission, just to double check.

Answer 6

Well, the stupid police arrested two schoolgirls for chalking on the pavement, so be careful.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/6624527.stm

There are some great examples of pavement art here http://uk.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=images&imgsz=all&imgc=&vf=all&va=pavement+art&fr=ybr_bt&ei=UTF-8 click on the picture to enlarge it.

Answer 7

Some clarification is required here.

What is your objective?

Is it to create art for the purpose of creating art, to please the public, to please yourself, studies etc...

Or is it to generally be a nuisance and disrupt people to push your own political motives or promote your anarchistic views?

If it is the former you will need an overnight bag. If it is the later you will not need an overnight back, as I am quite confident you will be arrested and detained at Her Majesties Pleasure, and rightly so!

Why can you not behave like a normal person and do what normal persons do on weekends?

Answer 8

I would think that it wouldn't hurt, as long as you don't do anything profanity or anywhere near where her majesty goes. i would think that the chalk drawings wouldn't last very long as due to the street sweepers cleaning the streets daily

Answer 9

if you go to London outside the national gallery west side you will find that there are several pavement artists doing just that; and they are very good,,
NO you would not get arrested only told to clean up after you

Answer 10

I dont know about London but here in the US it is not illegal unless the art is lewd. I have seen many beautiful works of art in sidewalk chalk.

Answer 11

no thats a stupid way to get arrested drawing chalk on the pavement thats you god givein right to do what you want exept break the law