Petition Do Not Push Forward with New Offences relating to Begging and Rough Sleeping

We want sections of the proposed Criminal Justice Bill that relate to "nuisance" begging and "nuisance" rough sleeping removed. We believe the proposed legislation is overly punitive and impractical, and risks further marginalising an incredibly vulnerable group of people.

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We think the bill ignores the causes of homelessness, which can include: trauma, complex mental/physical health needs, limited housing stock and cuts to public services. Instead, rough sleepers could face being repeatedly moved along, or even prison and/or a £2.5K fine. We believe this is impractical and inhumane.

Many antisocial behaviours are already illegal and have nothing to do with homelessness.

This petition closed early because of a General Election Find out more on the Petitions Committee website

872 signatures

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10,000

Date closed 30 May 2024
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