Hare Krishna monks distributing free food on the LSE campus have come under scrutiny from Westminster Street Licensing Enforcement Officers, who say that their stall represents a possible health and safety risk.

The monks have given out approximately 300 free meals a day to LSE students over the last two years, and have run a stall at SOAS for five years. They also give free food to around 200 homeless people a day at their centre in Caledonian Road.

They say that their LSE stall has been subject to repeated visits by the officers, despite the fact they possess all the necessary health and safety certificates.

One monk, Para (real name Peter O’Grady), told London Student that “They tried to get us on the health and safety thing but we’re fine. They checked out our van. They’ve tried in a few ways.

“Of course we are all up to scratch on health and safety, all food is checked for temperatures and recorded daily.  Our guy distributing  has his health and safety certificates.  There is no mess, no pigeons.  They are struggling to catch us out.”

The monks allege that, on their last visit, the officers told them that they were responding to complaints from management at of the Aldwych branch of NatWest, outside of which the food is distributed. However NatWest have denied this, saying that “we don’t actually have any problem with the activity that’s going on outside the branch, nor have we complained, and certainly don’t see this as posing a health and safety risk.”

Para also said that opposition to the stall had come from LSE cafe ‘The Garrick’, who had disputed the monks’ right to give out food on the campus.
“They said we can’t because of trading laws but we’re not actually trading so they have nothing on us.”

One student at LSE, Cyril Elbers, believes the concern is unjustified; “If the complaints are not legitimate…and they are not posing a security risk then I think they should stay. They’re providing a good service to an impoverished student community who pay very high fees and at the same time spreading their message which isn’t hurting anyone.”

The Hare Krishna Food For Life scheme has been in operation since 1974, and is the world’s largest vegan and vegetarian food distribution program. The UK operation is headquartered at a farm community in Watford, donated to the Monks by the late Beatle George Harrison.

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