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Closed Ban Anti-Homeless Architecture

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Anti-homeless architecture includes street spikes, slanted/curved benches, armrests on benches, barred corners, rocky pavements etc. These make life harder and more dangerous for the homeless and rough sleepers. Parliament must ban anti-homeless architecture to protect the safety of rough sleepers.

Since 2010 rough sleeping has more than doubled. Overall, an estimated 320,000 people are homeless in the UK, with approximately 4,000 to 5,000 people bedding down each night. In 2018 alone, 726 people died while homeless. Yet councils respond to this by erecting anti-homeless architecture around the country. This is unethical. The government is only making it harder for already-vulnerable people to find a safe space to spend the night. Ban anti-homeless architecture.

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  • Related activity

    Recent Parliamentary debates on homelessness, evictions, and the Vagrancy Act

    Over the last two weeks, there have been two debates in Parliament which relate to the issues raised by this petition.

    Find links to watch each debate, read the transcripts and access other relevant material on the following webpages:

    Nickie Aiken MP’s Westminster Hall debate: Repealing and replacing the Vagrancy Act 1824: https://houseofcommons.shorthandstories.com/vagrancy-act-1824/index.html

    Lord Bird’s Question for short debate: Evictions resulting from covid-19-induced poverty: https://houseofcommons.shorthandstories.com/covid-19--poverty-and-mass-evictions-/index.html

    What are Westminster Hall debates?

    Westminster Hall is the second Chamber of the House of Commons. Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a government minister. Any MP can take part in a Westminster Hall debate.

    What is a Question for short debate?

    Four short debates ('Questions for Short Debate') take place on Thursday every five weeks in Grand Committee of the House of Lords, away from the main Chamber. These debates are an opportunity for members of the House of Lords to discuss important current issues and draw the Government’s attention to concerns. A Government minister or spokesperson responds at the end to the issues raised in the debate.

    Please note that these debates are separate from any work the Petitions Committee may do on this petition. For more information on how petitions work, see https://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/sign-a-petition/e-petitions/

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    If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

    If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

    This petition will stay open until 26 February 2021.