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Oxford City Council threatens homeless with £2.5k fine over bags | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Homeless people who keep possessions in doorways in Oxford have been warned they face fines of up to £2,500. | |
Notices have been attached to piles of bags in Oxford city centre which belong to people sleeping rough. | |
Green Party councillor David Thomas said it was an "outrageous" bid to "intimidate" the homeless. | |
Oxford City Council said the abandoned bags posed a hazard by blocking fire exits and lockers were available to those who sought help. | Oxford City Council said the abandoned bags posed a hazard by blocking fire exits and lockers were available to those who sought help. |
The notices issued by the authority said prosecution could follow if the items were not removed. | |
Neo, who sleeps rough in Oxford, said he had his possessions confiscated by the council. | |
"Most of the stuff which was taken was stuff that the public donated... it's a shame," he said, adding he now carries his possessions around in a trolley. | |
The local authority has said homeless people who engage with aid services could access lockers to store their belongings. | |
However, Ashley, another homeless man from Oxford, said the lockers were not big enough. | |
"What Oxford needs is a just a space for stuff to be stored" he said. | "What Oxford needs is a just a space for stuff to be stored" he said. |