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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." | "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. |
Murphy James, from the Windsor Homeless Project, refuted Mr Dudley's suggestion that his comments were misconstrued. | |
"The message he put out was so specific, it was very hard to miscommunicate," said Mr James. | |
"If anybody is sitting in a doorway asking for scraps of change, there is no way that it can be classed as a commercial enterprise. | |
"Before we blame and criminalise people, we need to find out how we can help." | |
Posts on the petition 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. |