Is It A Crime To Be Homeless Now

[nailit]

http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/revealed-council-plan-fine-rough-787527
Link from my local paper.
The council are now going to fine homeless people who try to keep warm in a tent this winter. Fining homeless people up to £1000 is not only unworkable (where would they send the fine to?) its despicable.

[andy-hughes]

Talbot - // What more do you want me to say? //

Speaking personally, absolutely nothing at all - but that's your choice rather than mine.

[nailit]

Here's how its going to pan out.
Someone sleeps rough in a tent, they get fined. Cant pay the fine so end up in court with added costs, still cant pay so will end up in prison for non-payment where they will have food, clothing and a criminal record. Get released from prison and no where to live. Cycle begins again.

[Barmaid]

That pretty much nails it, Nailit.

If we are going to be pedantic being homeless is not a crime but certain acts often undertaken by the homeless are.

[nailit]

Baldric, we have our spats on here but I salute you for doing that. Well done.

[mikey4444]

Nailit....you the nub of the problem....something needs to be done to break the circle.

[Jackdaw33]

Quite, Nailit. I imagine that at this time of year there are quite a few homeless people who would welcome the prospect of three months inside compared with the alternative.

[nailit]

//being homeless is not a crime but certain acts often undertaken by the homeless are.//
Surely trying to keep warm in a tent shouldn't be one of them :-(

[nailit]

And theres posters on AB who say there is no austerity. Beggars belief.

[Buenchico]

The restrictions seem to apply to only very limited parts of Stoke-on-Trent.

The two public parks mentioned will almost certainly already be covered by bye-laws prohibiting the erection of tents. (I'm one of the boring nerds who actually stops to read the long lists of bye-laws which are frequently displayed by park entrances. I've never come across a public park yet where there's not a prohibition on erecting tents without council authorisation).

The Retail Park is private property, so the owners already have the right to limit access to that site.

That only leaves Hanley Town centre to be covered by new rules but that means the other five town centres within the city are unaffected by them, as are many other streets and open spaces in Stoke-on-Trent.

So perhaps the new rules aren't really that Draconian?

[nailit]

Just pushing the problem to somewhere else though Chris. Its not tackling it, its just moving it.

[Patsy33]

They've got spiked benches in some American parks to deter the homeless. Unless, you put a dollar roughly, for 15 mins to sit comfortably! I know they've got similar spiked area here too.

[Jackdaw33]

I think that's taking things a bit too far, Patsy.

[vetuste_ennemi]

//They've got spiked benches in some American parks to deter the homeless. Unless, you put a dollar roughly, for 15 mins to sit comfortably! //

...and when the dollar runs out?

[Jackdaw33]

My thoughts too, v-e.

[Mamyalynne]

https://www.themarysue.com/spike-bench/

[Cloverjo]

What a nasty idea.

[anotheoldgit]

One can buy a house in Stoke for only one pound.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/council-plans-to-sell-empty-homes-for-1-to-kickstart-local-economy-a6778411.html

[Zacs-Master]

Well, you could 2 years ago. Anyone know how that went?

[Theland]

Typical of our Godless selfish society.

[Old_Geezer]

"Just pushing the problem to somewhere else though Chris. Its not tackling it, its just moving it."

That's a common "solution". Sounds like resident parking permit areas, and permissions to retrospectively put drives into front gardens.