Boris asked to rethink bylaw ban on mobiles and cameras

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The Mayor has redrafted the restrictions on the two squares to take advantage of tough new powers handed to police last month to remove protest camps from Parliament Square.

But critics say the bylaws on loudspeakers have been drafted too widely as they require the Mayor's written permission to use "any apparatus for the transmission, reception or reproduction of sound or speech".

The rules also force press photographers and TV crews to get written permission before taking pictures in the two squares.

Banners and musical instruments have to be approved, while there is an outright ban on tents or other "sleeping" equipment.

Jenny Jones, the Green mayoral candidate, said: "I hope he rethinks this rather nasty bylaw, or can we expect many arrests of MPs and tourists using their mobiles in our most popular squares?"

The bylaws for the two squares, which are run by the Greater London Authority, are being updated to tie in with the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act.

People breaching the rules risk having unauthorised items seized by police or wardens and court fines of £200 for loudspeakers and £1,000 for cameras.

A spokeswoman for the Mayor said: "We are not inserting any provision to seize mobile phones."

City Hall said that restrictions on TV and press photography was intended to stop the area being blocked by satellite trucks.