We R Blighty, a community interest company (CIC), has also been banned by the supermarket chain Morrisons from collecting cash from shoppers inside its stores.
Yet they do not hold any licences to do this – meaning their activities are potentially illegal.
Both investigations remain under way. We R Blighty denies any wrongdoing.
He argues that the public supports his work “because they want veterans off the streets”. We R Blighty directly funds temporary accommodation in hotels, meaning it “helps veterans in a way that others can’t”.
Concerned users of the social network Reddit have shared images of We R Blighty fundraisers outside Marylebone and Paddington stations in London (Photos: Reddit/Snoo_55984/Shuckle95)Licences are used to ensure that fundraisers are trustworthy, plus to regulate how many operate in one place and how often, to prevent the public potentially being harassed for money.
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It is understood that other councils are also becoming frustrated with We R Blighty and are examining their options.
Until recently, it has been unclear whether local councils or the Metropolitan Police are responsible for vetting any CICs wishing to collect on public land in London.
The Met confirmed in a statement: “We have not issued any permits to We R Blighty.”
British Transport Police have warned We R Blighty not to fundraise inside Waterloo station, while council officers have written to the group after they were seen working on the pavement outside High Street Kensington (Photos: Getty Images; Wikimedia Commons/Tentinator)Problems at stations and supermarkets
A spokesperson for the force said it had “moved their volunteers on from the station and have made it clear they cannot operate on Network Rail property”.
The force denied it has powers to do this, stating that the area “is not under BTP’s jurisdiction, therefore it would not be for BTP to give permission”.
Mills said his teams “no longer approach stores due to the trouble it causes” after allegations were “fabricated” against We R Blighty.
We R Blighty fundraisers say their group have bought boats like this one to serve as accommodation for homeless military veterans (Screenshots: Facebook video)He believes this means his company does not require street collection or street trading licences, because of a legal exemption for vendors of print periodicals.
They point out that We R Blighty teams carry buckets to collect cash, and use banners that do not mention magazines but instead state that the organisation is “Supporting our Homeless Veterans”.
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Read MoreAnother CIC, Inside Success Union, which promotes youth opportunities, previously argued it was exempt from licencing because it was selling magazines.
Mills claimed that his group is not serving any “charitable purpose” nor working for “charitable causes”, instead pursuing an “ordinary course of trade”.
Seen here in 2003 when he was 18, We R Blighty founder Ben Mills served in the Iraq War (Photo: Andrew Parsons/PA Archive)
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