A charity has warned that homeless people are being moved on without support (Picture: Getty Images)

Councils are targeting rough sleepers with antisocial behaviour measures to move them off the streets, a study has claimed.

Buskers are being slapped with Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs), Dispersal Orders and Criminal Behavior Orders (CBOs) for begging, according to homeless charity Crisis.

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This comes after Havering Council was accused of ‘criminalising the destitute’ after proposing to ban begging, charity solicitation, unlicensed street trading and busking with amplified equipment in Romford.

But the charity warned that while enforcement can help people move away from the street, it must be accompanied by meaningful support and accommodation.


Survey found three in four homeless people have experienced some kind of enforcement (Picture: Getty Images)

More than one in three councils (36%) are now targeting rough sleepers with enforcement measures, a new survey by Crisis has found.

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Nearly three in four homeless people (73%) had experienced some kind of enforcement in the past year, with one in ten having experienced a formal measure with legal penalties.



And 81% said they received no support or advice during their last experience of enforcement.

In light of the findings, Crisis is calling on local councils to make sure that legal measures are used only as a last resort for genuinely antisocial behaviour and that any rough sleepers affected are offered personalised and accessible support to escape the streets.

A council has been accused of ‘criminalising the destitute’ (Picture: Getty Images)

To stop towns like Romford in Essex from introducing bans and imposing antisocial behaviour measures, a petition has been launched to help protect ‘the more vulnerable members of society’.

Jonny Walker, who created the petition, wrote: ‘These draconian proposals, if implemented, would turn Romford town centre into a no-go area for busking and would do immense damage to the grassroots cultural life of the town.’

Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive of Crisis, said: ‘There is a time and place for enforcement, and as a last resort it can play an important role in helping people off the street.

‘However, if it is used against a rough sleeper for genuinely antisocial behaviour then councils and police must make sure it is accompanied by accessible, meaningful support and accommodation to help that person escape the streets and rebuild their life. Without that support, they risk further marginalising rough sleepers and making it even harder for them to get help.’

What else did Crisis' survey find? • Almost 7 out of 10 local councils use some form of enforcement to tackle antisocial behaviour. • Local councils want to make increased use of new powers under the Anti-social behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. Over half (52%) intend to roll out new PSPOs, one in five (21%) intend to use CPNs (Community Protection Notices), and a fifth (18%) intend to make use of hostile architecture. • 10% of rough sleepers had encountered a formal enforcement measure in the last 12 months, compared to 70% who had experienced an informal measure. • 94% of local councils said that support and advice were always given alongside enforcement actions, but this generally referred only to legal actions. This was also reflected in a Freedom of Information request in which 21 local council reported that 374 referrals had been made to support or counselling services • 81% of recent rough sleepers received no support in relation to the last enforcement measure they experienced despite requests for support in some cases. While the numbers of rough sleepers receiving support was limited, the take up of support was quite high when it was offered, the two most common options being help accessing emergency accommodation or signposting to other organisations. • While local authorities reported seeing a drop in anti-social behaviour in areas where they had measures in place, over a quarter (28%) also reported it rising in places where there was no enforcement. • A third of rough sleepers (34%) said that enforcement had just made them move