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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/may/20/we-still-have-hearts-homeless-on-the-streets-of-kettering
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| 'We still have hearts': homeless on the streets of Kettering | 'We still have hearts': homeless on the streets of Kettering |
| (7 months later) | |
| It is lunchtime in the large market town of Kettering, Northamptonshire, and 38-year-old Ethan is sitting on a black bench in the centre of town as shoppers flow past. Dressed in a black jacket and jeans, he says he has been destitute for nearly a decade – with periods spent sleeping rough – although he is now living in temporary accommodation.Much of his time has been spent in Kettering, he says, and he has seen the town change over the years. In 2016, the council introduced a public space protection order (PSPO) which, among other things, makes it an offence to beg in the area. | It is lunchtime in the large market town of Kettering, Northamptonshire, and 38-year-old Ethan is sitting on a black bench in the centre of town as shoppers flow past. Dressed in a black jacket and jeans, he says he has been destitute for nearly a decade – with periods spent sleeping rough – although he is now living in temporary accommodation.Much of his time has been spent in Kettering, he says, and he has seen the town change over the years. In 2016, the council introduced a public space protection order (PSPO) which, among other things, makes it an offence to beg in the area. |
| Hundreds of homeless people fined and imprisoned in England and Wales | |
| This has had a big impact on people like Ethan. If he puts a container on the ground or gives any indication he is asking people for money, he could end up in prison. “It adds to all the stress and makes it harder to be homeless … it makes you feel like you are not welcome, like you are being pushed out,” he says. | This has had a big impact on people like Ethan. If he puts a container on the ground or gives any indication he is asking people for money, he could end up in prison. “It adds to all the stress and makes it harder to be homeless … it makes you feel like you are not welcome, like you are being pushed out,” he says. |
| The council says it implemented the policy – which also outlaws loitering, alcohol and swearing – to tackle antisocial behaviour in the town centre. | The council says it implemented the policy – which also outlaws loitering, alcohol and swearing – to tackle antisocial behaviour in the town centre. |
| Those prosecuted for begging can be fined up to £1,000. Upon prosecution, they receive criminal behaviour orders preventing them from drinking alcohol or begging. If they re-offend, they face imprisonment. To date, 13 people have been successfully prosecuted and fined by the borough council. In May 2017, the local authority hailed what it believed to be “the most criminal behaviour orders issued at once on the back of convictions” for begging after they took 10 people to court for breaching the PSPO. Nine were convicted, fined hundreds of pounds and given criminal records. | Those prosecuted for begging can be fined up to £1,000. Upon prosecution, they receive criminal behaviour orders preventing them from drinking alcohol or begging. If they re-offend, they face imprisonment. To date, 13 people have been successfully prosecuted and fined by the borough council. In May 2017, the local authority hailed what it believed to be “the most criminal behaviour orders issued at once on the back of convictions” for begging after they took 10 people to court for breaching the PSPO. Nine were convicted, fined hundreds of pounds and given criminal records. |
| The council has also banned loitering and obstructing the carriageway of a street. | The council has also banned loitering and obstructing the carriageway of a street. |
| “You have to sleep anywhere that is out of sight of cameras – otherwise you will be arrested for trying to get your head down,” Ethan says. “Sometimes when you are trying to do something positive it feels like they just want to kick you back down again.” | “You have to sleep anywhere that is out of sight of cameras – otherwise you will be arrested for trying to get your head down,” Ethan says. “Sometimes when you are trying to do something positive it feels like they just want to kick you back down again.” |
| His friend Wayne, who is also homeless, walks past. Wayne was recently given a criminal behaviour order preventing him from begging. Kettering council had said he often targeted older people in car parks and became aggressive when challenged. If he breaches the order he faces five years in prison. | His friend Wayne, who is also homeless, walks past. Wayne was recently given a criminal behaviour order preventing him from begging. Kettering council had said he often targeted older people in car parks and became aggressive when challenged. If he breaches the order he faces five years in prison. |
| Wayne holds back tears as he says he is having a bad day and does not want to speak. The only thing he will divulge is that he is now not allowed to even sit down in the area for more than 45 minutes.Ethan says he was fined when he was caught sleeping in a doorway. “All the stress from that forces you to do silly things … I just want to be treated as a person.” | Wayne holds back tears as he says he is having a bad day and does not want to speak. The only thing he will divulge is that he is now not allowed to even sit down in the area for more than 45 minutes.Ethan says he was fined when he was caught sleeping in a doorway. “All the stress from that forces you to do silly things … I just want to be treated as a person.” |
| Stewart Corke, 40, who volunteers at the Salvation Army store says shop fronts have been boarded up to prevent rough sleepers using doorways for shelter. “People are trying to push them out somewhere, boarding up the shop fronts, but they are not dealing with the problem. It’s just pushing it out of town,” Corke says.Not everyone sees the PSPO as completely negative. Amy (not her real name), who used to be homeless, says begging can make some vulnerable older people feel threatened.The Labour councillor Mick Scrimshaw says the practice can be intimidating and that some people asking for money are not genuine rough sleepers. “The concern is that by cracking down on that, by default you are also cracking down on those who need genuine support. When there is a rule that is black and white, that is what happens,” he says. | Stewart Corke, 40, who volunteers at the Salvation Army store says shop fronts have been boarded up to prevent rough sleepers using doorways for shelter. “People are trying to push them out somewhere, boarding up the shop fronts, but they are not dealing with the problem. It’s just pushing it out of town,” Corke says.Not everyone sees the PSPO as completely negative. Amy (not her real name), who used to be homeless, says begging can make some vulnerable older people feel threatened.The Labour councillor Mick Scrimshaw says the practice can be intimidating and that some people asking for money are not genuine rough sleepers. “The concern is that by cracking down on that, by default you are also cracking down on those who need genuine support. When there is a rule that is black and white, that is what happens,” he says. |
| In a statement, the council said that most of its enforcement of the PSPO was related to street drinking and begging but none of those prosecuted were homeless. | In a statement, the council said that most of its enforcement of the PSPO was related to street drinking and begging but none of those prosecuted were homeless. |
| “It is possible that some, at the time, may have been in temporary accommodation and indeed their circumstances may now have changed ... We are not shying away from taking enforcement action against those who are intentionally homeless, who refuse help and display anti-social behaviour,” the statement read. | “It is possible that some, at the time, may have been in temporary accommodation and indeed their circumstances may now have changed ... We are not shying away from taking enforcement action against those who are intentionally homeless, who refuse help and display anti-social behaviour,” the statement read. |
| The number of rough sleepers in Kettering has risen from three in 2016 to 14 a year later. | The number of rough sleepers in Kettering has risen from three in 2016 to 14 a year later. |
| Scrimshaw says a lack of affordable housing is behind the rise. “There is not enough social housing in Kettering, so the council spent over £1m last year on emergency accommodation.” | Scrimshaw says a lack of affordable housing is behind the rise. “There is not enough social housing in Kettering, so the council spent over £1m last year on emergency accommodation.” |
| Kettering has no hostels, although community volunteers are trying to open one. The main charity supporting people is Accommodation Concern, which offers housing advice to those in need. | Kettering has no hostels, although community volunteers are trying to open one. The main charity supporting people is Accommodation Concern, which offers housing advice to those in need. |
| But even it is struggling, with funding often hard to find. “Centres like us, charities who deal with the most vulnerable care, are closing. I am not saying we are at risk of closure but we are one funding stream away from real danger,” says Ralph Blackledge, the charity manager at Accommodation Concern. | But even it is struggling, with funding often hard to find. “Centres like us, charities who deal with the most vulnerable care, are closing. I am not saying we are at risk of closure but we are one funding stream away from real danger,” says Ralph Blackledge, the charity manager at Accommodation Concern. |
| Ethan thinks that instead of focusing on criminalising homelessness, efforts should be focused elsewhere; tackling the issues that are leading to the problem and addressing the needs of the homeless community.“What would make it easier for people like me? If the help we got was quicker and people could be housed in accommodation that suited them. | Ethan thinks that instead of focusing on criminalising homelessness, efforts should be focused elsewhere; tackling the issues that are leading to the problem and addressing the needs of the homeless community.“What would make it easier for people like me? If the help we got was quicker and people could be housed in accommodation that suited them. |
| “It should also not take so long, for example, if you have an alcohol or drugs problem. Instead of giving you a seven-day detox and no aftercare help, they should offer counselling to address the underlying problem.“I want to be treated as a person – the council are not compassionate or anything. But we still have hearts and we still bleed.” | “It should also not take so long, for example, if you have an alcohol or drugs problem. Instead of giving you a seven-day detox and no aftercare help, they should offer counselling to address the underlying problem.“I want to be treated as a person – the council are not compassionate or anything. But we still have hearts and we still bleed.” |
| • This article was amended on 21 May 2018 to provide further details about the circumstances of an interviewee. | • This article was amended on 21 May 2018 to provide further details about the circumstances of an interviewee. |
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