National homelessness charity Crisis has issued a stark warning
to the Government that the new proposals to tackle anti-social
behaviour, set to be announced today, risk punishing people
sleeping on the streets and could drive them further from
support.
The Government’s plans indicate that those who are destitute and
living on the streets could be subject to police action if they
ask for money, food or shelter. While the charity has welcomed
the intention to crack down on criminal gangs who exploit people
to beg, Crisis fears people forced to rough sleep risk being
labelled a ‘nuisance’ simply for having nowhere else to go.
In 2021 the Government pledged to scrap the Vagrancy Act, which
makes it a criminal offence to sleep rough in England and Wales,
after sustained campaigning from Crisis and other homelessness
charities. However, the act remains in force until the Government
chooses to enact the repeal. Crisis argues that the plans
outlined today risks replacing the Vagrancy Act in all but name
and has urged the Government to follow through with its
commitment to scrap the archaic law.
Responding to the proposed plans Matt Downie, Chief
Executive of Crisis, said: “It cannot be understated how
traumatic, dangerous and dehumanising life on the streets is. For
the thousands enduring this right now, every day is a struggle to
survive as people battle the elements, abuse and isolation. While
we need to see the full details, labelling destitute people a
nuisance and threatening to move people on is not the answer to
tackling rough sleeping. It’s incredibly disappointing to see the
Government resorting to this rhetoric at a time when rough
sleeping numbers are once again surging as the rising cost of
living pushes more people into poverty.
“The solutions are simple. If we built more affordable housing,
funded support services and invested in housing benefit so people
can pay their rent we could end rough sleeping for good, which is
a commitment the Government itself has made and shouldn’t need
reminding of. Dressing the Vagrancy Act up in new clothes is not
the answer – all this will do is criminalise and punish the
poorest in society.
“We urge the Government to stick to its plan to scrap this
archaic, destructive law and focus on getting people the support
they need so no one is forced to sleep on our
streets.”
