One In Ten Local Councils Are Criminalising Homeless People

One in ten local councils are using powers created to prevent anti-social behaviour to criminalise homelessness, new figures show.  Freedom of information requests to local authorities by the VICE News website found that 36 local authorities were targeting rough sleepers with Public Space Protection Orders. PSPOs are local regulations which can be used by councillors to ban anything with a “detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality”. In 36 of 78 cases the orders are being used to make activities common amongst homeless people illegal, an analysis by the website shows. Read more on the Independent website.