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Charity ‘extremely disappointed’ by ASB crackdown on rough sleepers
The government’s new anti-social behaviour crackdown will lead to “further criminalisation of vulnerable people”, a national charity has warned.
Homeless Link has criticised the new Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan announced by the government this week, which it said will establish a “zero-tolerance approach to all forms of anti-social behaviour”.
The government’s plans include ensuring police and councils have “the tools [to] direct people causing nuisance on the street, including obstructing shop doorways and begging by cash points, towards the support they need”.
The cross-department announcement also highlighted the need to clear “debris and paraphernalia which causes blight”, alongside making it illegal for criminal gangs to organise begging networks under the plans.
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Homeless Link, the national membership charity for organisations working directly with people who become homeless in England, has voiced concerns at some of the new measures.
Fiona Colley, director of social change at Homeless Link, said: “We are extremely disappointed to see that this new plan will result in further criminalisation of vulnerable people, rather than offering the constructive solutions that work in helping people off the streets for good.”
She added: “The measures proposed, including enforcement or risk of removal of belongings, will create distrust, pushing people away from the services and support they need.”
Ms Colley pointed to the government’s plans to scrap the Vagrancy Act.
“Homelessness is not a crime,” she said. “When the government committed to repealing the Vagrancy Act, it was done with an understanding that people sleeping on our streets need to be supported not criminalised.”
In response, a government spokesperson said: “No one should be criminalised simply for having nowhere to live and we remain committed to repealing the outdated Vagrancy Act.
“We are committed to ending rough sleeping and through our £2bn Rough Sleeping Strategy, we are helping people off the streets and supporting them to rebuild their lives.
“Our anti-social behaviour plan will give police and local authorities the power to direct people to appropriate support, including accommodation, drug treatment and mental health services.”
Other measures announced include banning nitrous oxide, known as laughing gas, which the government said is now the third most used drug among 16 to 24-year-olds in England.
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