A CHARITY boss called yesterday for the practice of “chugging” to be banned because it is helping to give the under-fire sector a bad name.

Aggressive high street tactics to press shoppers into committing to direct-debit giving are making people “turn their backs on charities” and harming good causes, Changing Lives chief executive Stephen Bell said.

The charity helps vulnerable people and their families with problems such as homelessness.

Mr Bell argued that “charity mugging” — or chugging — hindered a sector already harmed by the collapse of Kids Company and the way some generous donors have been systematically hounded to give more.

When shoppers are confronted by intrusive chuggers, employed by private companies to persuade people to donate, it adds to the negative image, he said.

“For us to succeed, we have to be accountable to the public and we have to take a more professional manner.
“I want an outright ban on chugging.”