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This petition was submitted during the 2019 to 2024 Parliament

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

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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.

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.

872 signatures


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    This petition will stay open until 30 May 2024.