Legal Aid Agency Taken To Court For Refusing To Help Rough Sleepers

A human rights organisation is taking the national provider of legal aid to court because it is refusing to help rough sleepers challenge councils over the use of potentially unlawful powers to move them on. Liberty has launched the legal challenge against the Legal Aid Agency because they will not offer assistance to rough sleepers and other local residents who cannot afford to pay lawyers if they want to challenge local authorities’ use of public space protection orders (PSPOs). A PSPO allows councils to ban activities they deem to have a detrimental effect on the lives of others. Read more on the Guardian website.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/oct/23/legal-aid-agency-taken-to-court-for-refusing-to-help-rough-sleepers

Nottingham City Council Accused Of Trying To 'Ban Homelessness'

A human rights group has accused Nottingham City Council of attempting to "ban homelessness". Liberty claims a new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) will mean people are forbidden from giving food to rough sleepers. Lara ten Caten from the group said the PSPO, which is under consultation, suggests homeless people obstructing doorways could be fined. However, the council has denied targeting the homeless. It said the PSPO will be used instead to tackle businesses and charities distributing nuisance leaflets and flyers. The authority said it was looking to manage anti-social behaviour within a "restricted zone" in the city centre. Read more on the BBC website.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-45717977

Windsor Council To Impose Fines On Rough Sleepers

Windsor council has been accused of punishing people for being homeless after plans emerged to fine rough sleepers £100 as part of a new “homelessness support strategy”. The Council will impose public space protection orders (PSPOs) banning aggressive or proactive begging, requests for money, leaving bedding and belongings in a public area and urination or defecation in town centres in the area, including Windsor, Maidenhead, Ascot and Eton. Breaches would lead to a £100 fixed penalty notice, which would be cut to £50 for early payment, but offenders could face a summary conviction and a £1,000 fine if they fail to pay. Read more on the Observer website.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/feb/11/windsor-council-to-impose-fines-on-rough-sleepers

Rough Sleepers Being Targeted By Legal Powers Designed For ASB

Councils across England and Wales are targeting rough sleepers with antisocial behaviour measures such as PSPOs and Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs), according to new research from Crisis, the national homelessness charity. Drawing on a survey of local councils, the report shows how more than one in three (36%) are targeting rough sleepers with enforcement measures. Of these councils, common measures included Criminal Behaviour Orders (45 per cent), Dispersal Orders (35 per cent), Public Space Protection Orders (17 per cent) and actions under the Vagrancy Act (27 per cent). Read more on the Crisis website.

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.