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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jan/04/ending-homelessness-royal-wedding-windsor-council-rough-sleepers-harry-meghan
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| The royal wedding must not be used to drive out rough sleepers | The royal wedding must not be used to drive out rough sleepers |
| (4 months later) | |
| Is this a new low in the callousness of modern Britain? The Conservative leader of Windsor council has demanded that the police remove homeless people from the streets before the royal wedding, which takes place in the town in May. Councillor Simon Dudley wrote to Thames Valley police this week, seeking action against what he describes as “aggressive begging and intimidation” and “bags and detritus” accumulating on the streets. He doesn’t want the VIPs attending Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s big day to have their experience spoilt by the sight of those at the sharp end of austerity. | Is this a new low in the callousness of modern Britain? The Conservative leader of Windsor council has demanded that the police remove homeless people from the streets before the royal wedding, which takes place in the town in May. Councillor Simon Dudley wrote to Thames Valley police this week, seeking action against what he describes as “aggressive begging and intimidation” and “bags and detritus” accumulating on the streets. He doesn’t want the VIPs attending Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s big day to have their experience spoilt by the sight of those at the sharp end of austerity. |
| It’s interesting that Dudley used the word detritus: is that how he views rough sleepers in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead? He complains in his letter that many of them are not homeless at all, and that “residents have had enough of this exploitation of residents and 6 million tourists [per year]”. | It’s interesting that Dudley used the word detritus: is that how he views rough sleepers in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead? He complains in his letter that many of them are not homeless at all, and that “residents have had enough of this exploitation of residents and 6 million tourists [per year]”. |
| If the Tories took homelessness seriously, maybe reality wouldn’t get in the way of the nation’s favourite fairytale | If the Tories took homelessness seriously, maybe reality wouldn’t get in the way of the nation’s favourite fairytale |
| Dudley, who has a background in finance and investment banking, has probably never been forced to beg himself. I can assure him that people only take to begging as a last resort, and if they’re “aggressively” begging it’s likely because they’re desperate. Luckily I never had to resort to begging during my brief period of rough sleeping three years ago. However, I have met people who have, in the various hostels I stayed in. None of them saw begging as a lifestyle choice, in fact many said it was the most humiliating thing they’ve ever had to do. | Dudley, who has a background in finance and investment banking, has probably never been forced to beg himself. I can assure him that people only take to begging as a last resort, and if they’re “aggressively” begging it’s likely because they’re desperate. Luckily I never had to resort to begging during my brief period of rough sleeping three years ago. However, I have met people who have, in the various hostels I stayed in. None of them saw begging as a lifestyle choice, in fact many said it was the most humiliating thing they’ve ever had to do. |
| Dudley is propagating the cynical myth – which, worryingly, seems to be becoming conventional wisdom – that beggars are not homeless at all, and are making a lot of money on the streets. You’d expect to hear this kind of nonsense in your local pub, not from a council leader. | Dudley is propagating the cynical myth – which, worryingly, seems to be becoming conventional wisdom – that beggars are not homeless at all, and are making a lot of money on the streets. You’d expect to hear this kind of nonsense in your local pub, not from a council leader. |
| The fact that Dudley feels empowered enough to demand we treat rough sleepers like criminals indicates that he does not stand alone on this issue. The vitriol in his letter is appalling. It’s the kind of sentiment you’d expect to hear from a Disney cartoon villain, in the privacy of their evil lair. | The fact that Dudley feels empowered enough to demand we treat rough sleepers like criminals indicates that he does not stand alone on this issue. The vitriol in his letter is appalling. It’s the kind of sentiment you’d expect to hear from a Disney cartoon villain, in the privacy of their evil lair. |
| And it sets a very dangerous precedent. Is it part of the Tory party’s attempt to hide the reality of homelessness? As insidious as this government’s social policies are, Conservative officials are usually discreet enough to hide their contempt for the poor. | And it sets a very dangerous precedent. Is it part of the Tory party’s attempt to hide the reality of homelessness? As insidious as this government’s social policies are, Conservative officials are usually discreet enough to hide their contempt for the poor. |
| But it isn’t the first time a Tory has misunderstood the mounting crisis. In December, Theresa May claimed that “statutory homelessness peaked under the Labour government and is down by over 50% since then”. It’s a claim easily discredited by the facts, which show that 10,100 families in England were accepted as homeless between April and June 2010, whereas last month the figure stood at 14,400. | But it isn’t the first time a Tory has misunderstood the mounting crisis. In December, Theresa May claimed that “statutory homelessness peaked under the Labour government and is down by over 50% since then”. It’s a claim easily discredited by the facts, which show that 10,100 families in England were accepted as homeless between April and June 2010, whereas last month the figure stood at 14,400. |
| Dudley went on to stress that rough sleeping is damaging Windsor’s quaint reputation, suggesting that the police should use laws such as the Vagrancy Act 1824 for the “numerous offenders”. | Dudley went on to stress that rough sleeping is damaging Windsor’s quaint reputation, suggesting that the police should use laws such as the Vagrancy Act 1824 for the “numerous offenders”. |
| The act is a highly antiquated law that criminalises rough sleeping and begging. But homeless people aren’t criminals; there’s nothing criminal about being so impoverished that you can’t afford to put a roof over your head. When I was homeless I didn’t take to the streets to exploit the “lucrative” returns one can enjoy from holding a polystyrene cup; I was homeless because I was poor. | The act is a highly antiquated law that criminalises rough sleeping and begging. But homeless people aren’t criminals; there’s nothing criminal about being so impoverished that you can’t afford to put a roof over your head. When I was homeless I didn’t take to the streets to exploit the “lucrative” returns one can enjoy from holding a polystyrene cup; I was homeless because I was poor. |
| Nor are homeless people who many people think they are. Those poor souls you pass on the pavement on your way to work or to the shops are not simply the stereotypical alcoholic shirker who refuses to get their act together – few such people exist. Amanda Croome, chief executive of the Booth Centre in Manchester, a day centre that offers advice and support to homeless people, told the Guardian that four out of 12 people sleeping in its night centre one night in December were actually in work. | Nor are homeless people who many people think they are. Those poor souls you pass on the pavement on your way to work or to the shops are not simply the stereotypical alcoholic shirker who refuses to get their act together – few such people exist. Amanda Croome, chief executive of the Booth Centre in Manchester, a day centre that offers advice and support to homeless people, told the Guardian that four out of 12 people sleeping in its night centre one night in December were actually in work. |
| Clearly the government’s pledge to make work pay isn’t working. With ballooning rents and the rising cost of living, a growing number of us are a missed pay cheque or two away from becoming the unfortunate people who Dudley wishes could just be swept away. | Clearly the government’s pledge to make work pay isn’t working. With ballooning rents and the rising cost of living, a growing number of us are a missed pay cheque or two away from becoming the unfortunate people who Dudley wishes could just be swept away. |
| I’m sure Harry and Meghan are wonderful people; but they’re just getting married, it really isn’t that important. Addressing rough sleeping is. The fact that Tory councils are prepared to enact vagrancy laws to protect a wedding for our society’s elite epitomises the party’s distorted priorities. Tackling homelessness in a meaningful way is clearly not one of them. | I’m sure Harry and Meghan are wonderful people; but they’re just getting married, it really isn’t that important. Addressing rough sleeping is. The fact that Tory councils are prepared to enact vagrancy laws to protect a wedding for our society’s elite epitomises the party’s distorted priorities. Tackling homelessness in a meaningful way is clearly not one of them. |
| Homelessness in Britain is a mess exacerbated by this government and beginning to look deliberately so. The number of rough sleepers in England has risen again for the sixth successive year, and homelessness has risen by 54% since 2010. The government’s abysmal record on building affordable homes is playing a role, as is its dreadful record on social care, with council spending on this falling by up to 30% in some areas since 2010. | Homelessness in Britain is a mess exacerbated by this government and beginning to look deliberately so. The number of rough sleepers in England has risen again for the sixth successive year, and homelessness has risen by 54% since 2010. The government’s abysmal record on building affordable homes is playing a role, as is its dreadful record on social care, with council spending on this falling by up to 30% in some areas since 2010. |
| If the Tories took homelessness seriously then maybe reality wouldn’t be getting in the way of the nation’s favourite fairytale this May. | If the Tories took homelessness seriously then maybe reality wouldn’t be getting in the way of the nation’s favourite fairytale this May. |
| • Daniel Lavelle is a journalism student at Goldsmiths, University of London. This piece was updated at 3.30pm on 4 January, shortly after launch | • Daniel Lavelle is a journalism student at Goldsmiths, University of London. This piece was updated at 3.30pm on 4 January, shortly after launch |
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