Charities split over plan to fine rough sleepers

Homelessness charities are split over Westminster council’s plans to fine rough sleepers. Crisis and Shelter condemned the move, but Thames Reach Bondway and the Passage, both on Westminster’s rough sleepers steering group, supported it.

Julie Jones, Westminster council’s director of social and community services, said: “Local residents have told us they feel threatened in many instances by aggressive begging and loutish behaviour by drunken and chemically intoxicated rough sleepers. We are not prepared to tolerate this situation.”