The Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, has expressed her desire to address the issue of homeless people pitching tents on public streets, emphasising the need to curb the “nuisance and distress” caused by these encampments.
Braverman stated that the UK cannot allow its streets to be taken over by rows of tents, labelling those who have to do so as making a “lifestyle choice”.
She warned of the potential for an “explosion of crime, drug taking and squalor” in British cities, akin to the situation witnessed in San Francisco and Los Angeles in the United States.
Braverman claimed the government is still commited to providing alternatives for those who do not wish to sleep rough, including collaborating with local authorities to enhance support services, particularly for those struggling with drug and alcohol addiction.
The Home Secretary’s primary focus is allegedly on addressing those who create problems by pitching tents in public spaces, engaging in aggressive begging, theft, drug use, littering and negatively impacting communities.
As part of her proposals, Braverman is advocating for restrictions on the use of tents in urban environments. This may include the creation of a civil offense to discourage charities from distributing tents to homeless individuals.
These potential measures are being considered for inclusion in the King’s Speech, which outlines the government’s legislative agenda. The legislation aims to prevent the obstruction of shop doorways by rough sleepers using tents.
Despite the government’s commitment to ending rough sleeping, the number of people estimated to be sleeping rough in England has increased for the first time since 2017. In September, the Kerslake Commission cautioned the government that it was not on track to achieve its goal of ending rough sleeping by the next general election, scheduled for January 2025.
The government’s Ending Rough Sleeping For Good strategy, published in September 2022, reaffirmed its commitment to ending rough sleeping during this parliamentary term.
[Image created via MidJourney]