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| Royal Wedding: Windsor council leader defends 'begging' comments | Royal Wedding: Windsor council leader defends 'begging' comments |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A council leader criticised for saying "aggressive begging" should be tackled in Windsor, ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, has defended his comments. | A council leader criticised for saying "aggressive begging" should be tackled in Windsor, ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, has defended his comments. |
| Simon Dudley, of the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, said he was referring to anti-social behaviour not homelessness. | Simon Dudley, of the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, said he was referring to anti-social behaviour not homelessness. |
| The prime minister was among those who disagreed with Mr Dudley's views. | The prime minister was among those who disagreed with Mr Dudley's views. |
| More than 100,000 people have signed a petition condemning his comments. | More than 100,000 people have signed a petition condemning his comments. |
| The authority leader claimed his initial comments in a letter to the local Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) were misconstrued. | The authority leader claimed his initial comments in a letter to the local Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) were misconstrued. |
| "At no point have I said 'move on the homeless'," Mr Dudley told BBC Radio Berkshire. | "At no point have I said 'move on the homeless'," Mr Dudley told BBC Radio Berkshire. |
| "The key thing is to draw the distinction between homelessness - which is an abomination in a civilised society - and anti-social behaviour, which is a very bad and deteriorating situation in Windsor." | |
| He claimed people who are not homeless beg on the streets of Windsor with "large quantities of unattended material and bags" that can pose a terrorist threat. | He claimed people who are not homeless beg on the streets of Windsor with "large quantities of unattended material and bags" that can pose a terrorist threat. |
| Mr Dudley added: "I would like to apologise if I was not clear enough in my communication." | Mr Dudley added: "I would like to apologise if I was not clear enough in my communication." |
| In his letter to the PCC, Mr Dudley said street begging created a "hostile atmosphere" for both residents and tourists and asked for the issue to be addressed "urgently". | In his letter to the PCC, Mr Dudley said street begging created a "hostile atmosphere" for both residents and tourists and asked for the issue to be addressed "urgently". |
| The prime minister said she disagreed with the council leader's letter, adding that councils should "work with police" and ensure accommodation was provided for homeless people. | The prime minister said she disagreed with the council leader's letter, adding that councils should "work with police" and ensure accommodation was provided for homeless people. |
| The petition, started on 4 January by Holly Fishwick, calls for a demand on the local police force to clear the area of homeless people before the wedding to be withdrawn, and for the the council to offer a "suitable long-term solution" for homeless people. | The petition, started on 4 January by Holly Fishwick, calls for a demand on the local police force to clear the area of homeless people before the wedding to be withdrawn, and for the the council to offer a "suitable long-term solution" for homeless people. |
| Posts on the page have been highly critical of Mr Dudley, with one from Cassandra Campbell suggesting people "help homeless people instead of removing them". | Posts on the page have been highly critical of Mr Dudley, with one from Cassandra Campbell suggesting people "help homeless people instead of removing them". |
| Another, from Ashley Houston, said "No one should be punished for being homeless, what a horrible world we live in." | Another, from Ashley Houston, said "No one should be punished for being homeless, what a horrible world we live in." |
| Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will marry at St George's Chapel in Windsor on 19 May. | Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will marry at St George's Chapel in Windsor on 19 May. |