- Braverman advocates tent restrictions.
- Excluded from King’s Speech.
- Public and political reactions.
In England and Wales, Home Secretary Suella Braverman continues to advocate for restrictions on homeless sleepers’ tent usage.
Exclusion from King’s Speech
The proposal was not included in the King’s Speech, which outlined the government’s yearly priorities.
A source close to Mrs. Braverman, however, maintained that the notion had not been abandoned.
Downing Street stated that it would not speculate on the eventual inclusion of the proposal in the Criminal Justice Bill.
The bill, which was mentioned in the King’s Speech, proposes the establishment of additional authorities to address “organised, persistent begging.”
It replaces the 1824 Vagrancy Act, which criminalised rough sleeping and soliciting in England and Wales.
The Criminal Justice Bill was originally scheduled to enter into force on Wednesday. However, due to deliberations regarding the inclusion of tents, its introduction in the House of Commons was postponed.
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Certain government officials are also apprehensive that the measures might encounter legal opposition.
Political and Public Reactions
Mrs. Braverman proposes that the bill incorporate penalties for individuals engaged in rough sleeping who have received warnings from law enforcement regarding their potential to cause disturbances, such as by persistently erecting their shelters near storefront entrances.
It would target individuals who “opt to reside in tents” and have declined assistance to exit homelessness or enter drug treatment, according to a spokesperson for Mrs. Braverman.
Institutions that offer tents to police-identified rowdy rough sleepers may face civil penalties.
The weekend announcement by Mrs. Braverman, which she detailed in a series of posts on X, that she intended to limit the use of tents incited opposition parties and homeless charities to take action.
Certain Conservative Members of Parliament (MPs) have also expressed disapproval of the home secretary’s proposal. Natalie Elphicke, for instance, stated in a post on X: “Throughout my extensive experience assisting homeless individuals, both in my hometown of Dover and in metropolitan areas such as Manchester and London, no one has ever suggested that tent removal is the solution.
The home secretary stated in her statement that while the government will always assist the truly destitute, it cannot permit its streets to be occupied by rows of tents containing individuals, the majority of whom are foreign nationals, who choose to live on the streets as a way of life.
In the absence of action, she stated, “British cities will follow San Francisco and Los Angeles. Where weak policies have caused crime, drug use, and squalor.”
Her Conservative colleague, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk, said he would “take a different approach.”
However, he emphasised that they shared a common recognition of the importance of confronting underlying causes of rough sleeping, including but not limited to “mental health disorders, substance abuse issues, relationship dissolution, unemployment, and so forth.
Tent Proposals Under Scrutiny
Press reports indicated that Mrs. Braverman’s intended assault on tents was to be mentioned in the King’s Speech.
Mrs. Braverman’s spokesman said it was always intended for a later Criminal Justice Bill.
Downing Street stated that additional information would be provided upon the bill’s publication.
“No one should be criminalised for being homeless, and we’re removing the outdated Vagrancy Act,” a spokesperson for the prime minister stated.
“We want to go as far as possible to ensure that those who are vulnerable can get the support they need and obviously at the same time cracking down on anti-social, intimidating or indeed criminal behaviour.”
Polly Neate, chief executive officer of housing charity Shelter, stated: “In reaction to public indignation, the home secretary should learn about the underlying causes of homelessness rather than picking on individuals who are already living in the worst, most dangerous, and most fatal situations.”
“Addressing homelessness does not necessitate punitive policies that criminalise individuals for attempting to maintain warmth.”
“The Autumn Statement should unfreeze housing benefit and safeguard homeless individuals from punishment.”
The official context notes on the Criminal Justice Bill, which were released earlier on Tuesday, made no mention of tents.
Nick Watt was informed that the home secretary’s tent proposals were “still undergoing scrutiny.”
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