Members of the Fermanagh District Policing Partnership were informed last week by the PSNI that only one street collection is permitted in each town per day.

A query was raised by Hazel Hicks who said she understood that that was indeed the case, that the Police will only issue one permit for street collections by charities in Enniskillen. But, such, she suggested, was not the practice.

"Recently," she went on, "I have been aware of at least two charities collecting money in Enniskillen on the same day. How is this possible? My concern is that people are collecting in the name of a charity, but are not passing on the funds."

Mrs Hicks also asked the position regarding in-store collections and if permits were required at events such as band parades and vintage car rallies as she had often noticed several charities collecting at these.

Chief Inspector Alywin Barton explained that only one street collection was permitted in each town per day.

"Different collections," he went on, "can take place in different towns in Fermanagh each day. We rely on Police beats in town areas, or sometimes on the public, to contact us in relation to additional street collections taking place without a permit."

Members were told that the permit should be with the person in charge of the collection when it is actually taking place,.

Mr Barton added: "If two charities collect on the same day, obviously, one of the collectors is there without a permit. The charity that has permission to collect would usually let the Police know if this has happened, and the Police would then attempt to locate the illegal collectors in order to seize their money and note their details for referral to the Director of Public Prosecutions."

Turning to in-store collections, usually at the entrance, Mr Barton explained that, in this instance, as the premises are privately owned, the store gives permission, although most stores usually contacted the PSNI first to check if others were taking place in the town.

"The same rule', Chief Inspector Barton added, "applies for collections at band parades and events, only one collection is permitted.

If the event is held on private property, then it is up to the organisers as to who they let collect. We cannot give permission for collections on private property."

Members of the DPP were also informed that, sometimes, the PSNI get applications for collections at street trading markets.

Here, the Police can only give permission for collections to take place on the public road around the market area, not where the market takes place.