New Bill risk criminalising homeless people

A number of homeless charities have written to the government urging ministers to reconsider the new Police and Crime Bill, warning that it could criminalise large numbers of people simply for being homeless.

Writing to Housing and Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick, the charities argue that urgent changes are needed to the Bill to avoid the risk of people being arrested and imprisoned for sleeping rough.

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill has just passed through the Commons and will now be considered in the Lords. It features a series of highly controversial elements, including a ban on protests that are viewed as too noisy or that ‘alarm’ the public.

The letter, signed by the heads of Shelter, Crisis, St Mungo’s, the Chartered Institute of Housing and others, said they believed the bill should be scrapped. If it goes ahead, they added, ministers should amend it to lessen any impact on homeless people.

The letter says: “As currently drafted, the legislation risks putting any person who resorts to living in a car, van or other vehicle – or indeed has a vehicle parked near where they may be sleeping rough – at risk of arrest and imprisonment if they have been asked to leave by the landowner or police.

“While this could apply in rural areas it could also apply in city centre car parks, a public road or private driveway. Many people experiencing homelessness sleep in cars, or in tents with their vehicle nearby, such as people who have work vehicles, eg for delivery driving. We recognise that the government has said it does not intend for these people to be caught by the offence but ask for clarification to the bill to ensure this.”