Chester rough sleeping ban plan criticised by homeless

Rough sleepers in Chester could be fined up to £1,000

Homeless people in Chester have criticised plans to use new laws to make rough sleeping an offence in the city centre.

Cheshire West and Chester Council wants to introduce a Public Space Protection Order, banning sleeping in the streets, as well as feeding the birds and unauthorised busking.

Failure to comply with the order could lead to a fine of up to £1,000.

The council insisted the aim was to "safeguard the interests of all".

Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) were introduced under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act in 2014.

Government guidance said PSPOs were intended to deal with issues in certain areas that are "detrimental to the local community's quality of life, by imposing conditions on the use of that area which apply to everyone".

Cheshire West and Chester Council is consulting on plans to introduce a PSPO to "control and restrict" seven activities, including rough sleeping.

Activities to be "controlled and restricted" by Chester's Public Space Protection Order

• Rough sleeping

• Using so-called 'legal highs'

• Drinking alcohol outside licensed premises

• Unauthorised busking

• Begging

• Feeding birds

• Urinating (except in public toilets)

Charity Chester Aid to the Homeless runs a homeless shelter providing food, clothing and counselling to homeless people in the city.

Manager Robert Whittall said homeless provision in the city needed to be increased but insisted "criminalising behaviour which is the end result of lots of different factors just isn't the solution".

Shelter user Andy has been sleeping rough in Chester city centre for the last four years. He said the new rules were "outrageous".

"They're trying to say sleeping in the city centre is an act of antisocial behaviour. It's not, it's an act of poverty.

"We sleep in the city centre to stay safe. To tell us we're going to be fined or penalised for staying somewhere safe is wrong in my eyes."

The council said it would investigate the capacity of shelters like the Harold Tomlins Centre in the city

Human rights campaign group Liberty is investigating taking legal action.

Legal officer Rosie Brighouse said: "Begging and sleeping rough are not lifestyle choices or antisocial behaviour - they're usually a result of extreme poverty.

"Instead of criminalising the city's poorest and most vulnerable, issuing them with a fine they can't possibly afford to pay and pushing them further to the margins, Cheshire West and Chester Council should focus on helping them."

Cheshire West and Chester Council head of place services Maria Byrne insisted the impetus was to provide support for homeless people.

"What we want to try and do is make sure everybody rough sleeping is aware of the provision."

She added that a fine would be "a last resort" and the council would work with police to look at the "whole situation, not just one element".

"We don't want to push people to crime. We need to find ways to make sure we are helping and finding places for them to sleep rather than on the street.

"I think it is about preserving the city, safeguarding the interest of all of those who use it and promoting the city as somewhere to live, visit and return."

She said the "active" three-month consultation would consider all options.