charity collections on the underground

There's often charity collectors at the top of the W&C travelators at Bank, usually wearing some kind of silly costume. I presume it's officially sanctioned as it's a regular thing.
I don't mind too much, except they stand in the middle of a major circulation area and are rather in the way, especially at rush hour.

It's not legal, the medical students usually do this on rag week, tbh, as long as they don't delay the train by going from car to car I and many other drivers normally turn a blind eye to their actions.

LU do regulate all charity collections conducted on the network.

Only pre-approved charities can collect and must sign in with the Station Supervisor.

Collections are not allowed on trains, platforms, escalators etc. And can only be conducted on the "paid" side of a station with the approval of the Station Supervisor.

All collectors on stations must wear a visitors badge.

I do remember reading that Students on Rag Week have a special concession to collect on trains....

Recently there was a massive spate of collections on trains even late at night 9-10 pm.. I always thought it was banned, on the first occasion when I noticed many of them running around the station dressed as medical staff getting on and off the trains I called LC, it was a new female LC who answered. I explained there were many many people dressed up as medical staff getting on and off trains in the central area begging, she said she didn't know anything about it and would get messages to station staff to get them to try and get them out of the stations and off the system. I then told my passengers that these people were not known the the underground line control and were not official medical staff. I told them not to take any medical advice that was offered to them, or to give them any money for medical advice or services and they pretty quickly got off the train!

But a week or so later there was another afternoon with plenty of these fake medical staff in the central area so I called the controller again to advise. It was a different one, he said they were collecting for guys hospital and were allowed on the trains ! I played the 'don't support these beggars' automated PA.

I don't think they should be going through the trains shoving buckets in front of peoples noses for money. On stations is fine and I am all for it. That way if someone wants to give they can. I often see them at my local stations and always give any spare change, but they don't pressurise me to that is the difference.