Bristol mayor will confiscate tents to make homeless 'more visible'

[Tony Gosling]

Bristol Mayor George Ferguson believes homeless 
people should be sleeping in shop doorways rather 
than tents because it makes them 'more visible'. 
(to subconsciously remind passers by what happens 
when they don't pay their rent or mortgage perhaps?)
Therefore his Gauleiter Nick Hooper will be 
stealing the tents of campers and fining the 
homeless in an attempt to force them back to sleeping on the streets...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/298094720310270/permalink/884257341694002/

Bristol's homeless campers could have their tents 
confiscated and face court action
By EsmeAshcroft1 | Posted: January 23, 2016
http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/8203-Bristol-s-homeless-campers-tents-confiscated/story-28590621-detail/story.html

"Parks and public places are not designed for 
camping and do not have adequate facilities for campers."
HOMELESS people camping in city parks could have 
their tents seized and face legal action, say Bristol City Council.
It is estimated that there are around 15 people 
who regularly pitch tents at sites including 
Castle Park and St James Park, near Bristol bus station.
And, in an attempt to get campers in to emergency 
accommodation, Bristol City Council has said that 
those who refuse to move on will now have their tents confiscated.
Anyone who refuses to work with the 
council-commissioned rough sleeping service 
provided by St Mungos Broadway, or is deemed to 
be acting antisocially, will also face legal action.

Nick Hooper, service director for housing 
solutions and crime reduction at Bristol City 
Council, said: "As with other cities and towns in 
the UK we are currently experiencing high levels 
of rough sleeping and there has been an increase 
in rough sleepers, including those sleeping in tents, in the city this year.
"The council does not want to encourage large 
encampments in public parks and other public 
areas as it often leads to complaints from the 
public about mess, littering and anti-social behaviour.
"Parks and public places are not designed for 
camping and do not have adequate facilities for campers.
"Where campers are found in parks and are 
littering and causing anti-social behaviour 
enforcement action is taken against them and the tent will be seized.
"Enforcement action will also be taken if people 
are camping in public places and parks and they 
are not engaging with the rough sleeping service to move into accommodation.
"The council will also remove unoccupied tents on 
council land and keep them in storage."
Bristol City Council claim the issue of homeless 
camps has been made worse by charities and 
organisations handing out free tents to rough sleepers.
Although warmer than sleeping on the street, the 
authority say those living in tents are still at 
risk to the elements and are less visible to agencies trying to provide help.
Mr Hooper added: "[The situation] is partly as a 
result of individuals and organisations - but not 
the Council or its commissioned partners - 
providing tents to assist people who are rough 
sleeping and help them shelter from winter weather.
"Both the council and St Mungos fully understand 
the need for people to stay warm and dry when they are rough sleeping.
"However, when people are sleeping in tents the 
rough sleeping team often find it difficult to 
engage with them and this can prevent or delay 
helping people into accommodation.
"Campers can feel more comfortable than if they 
were rough sleeping and therefore may not engage 
with the rough sleeper service. Our services are 
designed to move people off the streets as quickly as possible."

A new rough sleeping task group has been set up 
by Bristol Mayor George Ferguson and so far 20 
extra beds have been opened up in conjunction with St Mungo's Broadway.

RedCrusader | January 24 2016, 3:54PM
spot on @syfly, the council have many of it's 
priorities wrong. I've said many times before, 
the £3+ million BCC squander on Interpreters for 
people that refuse to learn English is 
disgusting. Apart from ensuring segregation, 
that's far more important to them than the homeless, elderly etc...

SouthvilleDav | January 24 2016, 3:14PM
This is vile. Hitler & Stalin would be proud of Bristol City council.

syfly | January 24 2016, 12:26PM
This story is not really about the rising number 
of homeless rough sleepers, in shop doorways, 
subways or in tents. But about our councils 
response, under the leadership of George. The 
council has cut funding to pretty much all it's 
core service by up to 30%, homelessness 
provision, care for the elderly/ youth, 
environment etc, but has increased funding for 
culture from 42 million to 67 million in the last 
fiscal year. Why has Redwood house in St Judes 
been closed for over a year, just lying empty 
with accommodation for over 80 people? Nick 
Hooper is being disingenuous at best by stating 
that individuals and organisations are 
responsible for this situation. No Nick it's the 
general economy and your employers policies of 
pursuing and promoting higher house prices and 
rents by marketing Bristol as a destination for 
those with disposable income, and not by helping 
those on average or minimum wages.

RedCrusader | January 24 2016, 11:40AM
I'm with you @andywade, never voted Labour in my 
life (or Tory) but anything to get Idiot Trousers 
out and bring back some pride and sense to Bristol is good by me!

Young_Ron | January 24 2016, 11:22AM
I can imagine the conversation down the Counts 
Louse: "Our strategy to get homeless people off 
the street isn't working properly. They're 
getting off the streets and camping. What should 
we do?" "How about stealing their tents and 
charging them with anti-social behaviour." "Brilliant! Job done!"

mustnotdothis | January 24 2016, 10:40AM
Criminalising the homeless under George 
Ferguson's Council. Absolutely shameful.

andywade | January 24 2016, 1:00AM
If you are disgusted by this story, then 
remember: Local elections are in May. Your Labour 
candidate (and most likely to beat Ferguson) is 
Marvin Rees. Make Marvin Mayor, if only to give 
Mad King George the order of the boot!

JoeKingswood | January 23 2016, 6:05PM
And what legal action are you going to take 
against them? A fine? no money! Prison? Free 
housing and food! Idiot council... Leave them alone.

RedCrusader | January 23 2016, 5:37PM
Stop giving all the Council housing away to 
people that don't need/qualify for it and they 
might not need to sleep like this!

BristolPete30 | January 23 2016, 5:29PM
Come on George - charity begins at home not at 
the photo op. Take a few into your mansion.

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