Rough sleeping (i.e people sleeping in the open air) will be banned in Hungary from today after a relevant law was adopted by Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government. The piece of legislation, called “cruel” by critics comes into force as a constitutional amendment was approved by the Budapest parliament on 20 June banned “habitual residence in a public space”, beefing up a 2013 law that made it a fineable offence.

Police will be empowered to remove rough sleepers from streets and dismantle huts and shacks, with a government official saying the law “serves the interests of society as a whole”.

Its goal is “to ensure that homeless people are not on the streets at night-time and that citizens can make use of public space unimpeded”, Attila Fulop, social affairs state secretary, told reporters.

An estimated 11,000 places exist in state-run shelters but experts say at least 20,000 people are homeless nationwide.

Last month, the European Parliament voted to initiate legal action against Hungary following a report drawn up by MEP’s suggesting, among other things, that the country’s treatment of its homeless was contributing to a “clear risk of a serious breach” of EU values.