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Homeless sleeping rough in Oxford ordered to remove possessions from doorway or face fines of up to £2,500 | Homeless sleeping rough in Oxford ordered to remove possessions from doorway or face fines of up to £2,500 |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Rough sleepers in Oxford have been warned they must remove their possessions from doorways or face fines of up to £2,500. | Rough sleepers in Oxford have been warned they must remove their possessions from doorways or face fines of up to £2,500. |
Community protection notices were placed on homeless people’s possessions last week, ordering that they must remove their belongings or be prosecuted for "unreasonable" conduct. | Community protection notices were placed on homeless people’s possessions last week, ordering that they must remove their belongings or be prosecuted for "unreasonable" conduct. |
The notice, issued under the legislation designed to tackle anti-social behaviour, accused rough sleepers of “causing an obstruction [...] that may constitute a hazard” and leaving their belongings unattended on any land that is "not rightfully" theirs without written permissions from the land owner. | The notice, issued under the legislation designed to tackle anti-social behaviour, accused rough sleepers of “causing an obstruction [...] that may constitute a hazard” and leaving their belongings unattended on any land that is "not rightfully" theirs without written permissions from the land owner. |
It warned that if people with no fixed abode failed to comply by the following morning they would be committing an offence which could lead to court action and a maximum fine of £2,500. | It warned that if people with no fixed abode failed to comply by the following morning they would be committing an offence which could lead to court action and a maximum fine of £2,500. |
Oxford City Council said the presence of the bags was blocking fire escapes in a particular part of the city and therefore posing a risk to those working inside, saying lockers are available for homeless people to store their belongings. | Oxford City Council said the presence of the bags was blocking fire escapes in a particular part of the city and therefore posing a risk to those working inside, saying lockers are available for homeless people to store their belongings. |
But local Green Party Councillor David Thomas told The Independent the rough sleepers affected struggled to find a viable alternative, with only a “limited” amount of storage space currently provided by the council. | But local Green Party Councillor David Thomas told The Independent the rough sleepers affected struggled to find a viable alternative, with only a “limited” amount of storage space currently provided by the council. |
He claimed using legislation designed to prevent anti-social behaviour against homeless people was a “disproportionate” use of the council’s power. | He claimed using legislation designed to prevent anti-social behaviour against homeless people was a “disproportionate” use of the council’s power. |
“That legislation is designed to tackle anti-social behaviour, not to harass the homeless over their bags. It’s disproportionate power. People get confused between the definitions of annoying and anti-social,” said Mr Thomas. | “That legislation is designed to tackle anti-social behaviour, not to harass the homeless over their bags. It’s disproportionate power. People get confused between the definitions of annoying and anti-social,” said Mr Thomas. |
“Homeless people affected told me they understood it was a safety issue, but they don’t have a viable alternative on where to store their things. In the local night shelter there’s very limited lock up space, but nowhere near enough to give people dignity. | “Homeless people affected told me they understood it was a safety issue, but they don’t have a viable alternative on where to store their things. In the local night shelter there’s very limited lock up space, but nowhere near enough to give people dignity. |
"A few months ago the council did start a discussion about providing more lock-up space, but nothing has happened since.” | "A few months ago the council did start a discussion about providing more lock-up space, but nothing has happened since.” |
The action follows a controversial Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) introduced in 2015, which was designed to tackle “persistent types of anti-social behaviour”. It has been condemned for its frequent use in targeting the homeless. | |
Mr Thomas said that amid growing rates of homelessness in the city, such orders against rough sleepers failed to tackle the root of the problem. | Mr Thomas said that amid growing rates of homelessness in the city, such orders against rough sleepers failed to tackle the root of the problem. |
“Oxford City Council has a history of using anti-social legislation against rough sleepers. They’re a bit quick off the mark, and this is a very easy piece of legislation for the council to administer,” he said. | “Oxford City Council has a history of using anti-social legislation against rough sleepers. They’re a bit quick off the mark, and this is a very easy piece of legislation for the council to administer,” he said. |
“Homelessness is a rising problem in Oxford, and the true figures are often underestimated. It’s a bit like a cat and mouse game, the council keeps moving them on and it’s a waste of time and resources.” | “Homelessness is a rising problem in Oxford, and the true figures are often underestimated. It’s a bit like a cat and mouse game, the council keeps moving them on and it’s a waste of time and resources.” |
Claire Dowan, chief executive of local charity Oxford Homeless Pathways, which works with a number of rough sleepers in the area, said viewing homelessness in the city from an "anti-social" perspective failed to look at the “root causes”. | Claire Dowan, chief executive of local charity Oxford Homeless Pathways, which works with a number of rough sleepers in the area, said viewing homelessness in the city from an "anti-social" perspective failed to look at the “root causes”. |
“My questions is: why are these dispersal orders needed? We’re talking about a very vulnerable client group, and what needs to be addressed is how we can accommodate and care for them and address some of those social issues,” she told The Independent. | “My questions is: why are these dispersal orders needed? We’re talking about a very vulnerable client group, and what needs to be addressed is how we can accommodate and care for them and address some of those social issues,” she told The Independent. |
“It should be about the root causes. We’re looking at vulnerable people who often don’t have any alternative and need help. If you look at homelessness from the perspective of anti-social behaviour, you aren’t looking at the real issues behind it.” | “It should be about the root causes. We’re looking at vulnerable people who often don’t have any alternative and need help. If you look at homelessness from the perspective of anti-social behaviour, you aren’t looking at the real issues behind it.” |
In a statement, Oxford City Council said: “Bags had been left blocking fire escapes in Cornmarket Street, posing a risk to those working inside. We put notices on all the bags, giving owners two days to remove their belongings. | In a statement, Oxford City Council said: “Bags had been left blocking fire escapes in Cornmarket Street, posing a risk to those working inside. We put notices on all the bags, giving owners two days to remove their belongings. |
“After two days the owners had removed everything apart form a soiled duvet and pieces of cardboard, which we removed. Lockers are available for homeless people who are accessing services in the city to store their belongings. | “After two days the owners had removed everything apart form a soiled duvet and pieces of cardboard, which we removed. Lockers are available for homeless people who are accessing services in the city to store their belongings. |
“We work closely with homelessness charities to support homeless people in Oxford, and every year we spend £1.4 million to fund a wide range of outreach and support services.” | “We work closely with homelessness charities to support homeless people in Oxford, and every year we spend £1.4 million to fund a wide range of outreach and support services.” |
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