Westminster Council continue barbaric assault on the homeless

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

Tory Westminster Council have decided to continue their barbaric assault on the homeless, criminalising rough sleeping and the distribution of food to homeless people in the Victoria area.

Westminster Council closed a month long consultation on the by-law on Friday the 25th of March, after receiving over 500 responses and petitions. Campaigners have staged two mass ‘lie down’ protests in Victoria, and hundreds gathered on the 20th of March for a street party against the by-law, yet the council are ploughing on regardless.

The proposed by-law will fine people in the Victoria area if they “lie down or sleep in any public place”, “deposit bedding” and distribute free food and drink. This byelaw will affect the 1,600 people it is estimated sleep rough in Westminster each year, many of whom bed down in the Victoria area.

Charities could be fined if they continue to conduct ‘soup runs’ or hand out food in the Victoria area if the ban goes ahead.