The home secretary wants to restrict the use of tents by homeless people in UK towns and cities, arguing it is “a lifestyle choice”.
Suella Braverman said many of those who sleep in tents are “from abroad” and insisted there is no need given the alternatives and support available to rough sleepers.
The UK will follow the likes of San Francisco and Los Angeles in the US, where “weak policies have led to an explosion of crime, drug taking, and squalor”, if action is not taken, she added.
Ms Braverman’s proposal has been branded “cruel and ignorant”, with critics accusing her of seeking “to dehumanise people and create a scapegoat in society”.
Protesters outside the Home Office voiced opposition to Ms Braverman’s comments on homeless tents and refugees
Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, Ms Braverman said: “The British people are compassionate. We will always support those who are genuinely homeless. But we cannot allow our streets to be taken over by rows of tents occupied by people, many of them from abroad, living on the streets as a lifestyle choice.
“Nobody in Britain should be living in a tent on our streets. There are options for people who don’t want to be sleeping rough, and the government is working with local authorities to strengthen wraparound support including treatment for those with drug and alcohol addiction.
“What I want to stop, and what the law-abiding majority wants us to stop, is those who cause nuisance and distress to other people by pitching tents in public spaces, aggressively begging, stealing, taking drugs, littering, and blighting our communities.”
The home secretary’s crackdown would reportedly target “nuisance” tents, such as those blocking shop doorways, and involve charities that hand out camping equipment being fined.
Responding, Labour MP Jess Phillips said: “My brother was a rough sleeper, unlike Suella Braverman he has dedicated his life in gratitude to the fact he still has it to the service and help of others.
“He’d be a better home secretary than her but then again a cardboard box would be a better home secretary than her.”
Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael said: “This is grim politics from a desperate Conservative government which knows its day are numbered.
“It is a new low for Braverman to criminalise homeless charities for simply trying to keep vulnerable people warm and dry in winter.
“The British public raise millions of pounds for homeless people at this time of year, and the government’s response is to criminalise those charities trying to help.
“This policy will do nothing to stop rough sleeping and will leave vulnerable people to face the harsh weather conditions without any shelter whatsoever.”
Mrs Braverman’s plans to tackle homeless tents also came under fire from protesters gathered outside the Home Office on Saturday, amid wider concerns about her hard-line approach to refugees.
James Cox, of the Public and Commercial Services Union, said: “There’s a political aim to dehumanise people and create a scapegoat in society.
“These people are the most vulnerable, our aim should be to make sure they can integrate into society.”
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The government last year said it would repeal the 1824 Vagrancy Act, which made begging and rough sleeping illegal, and promised £2bn over three years to help get people off the streets.
But a recent report found rough sleeping was up 26% on last year.
The study said many of the problems stem from a severe shortage of affordable housing and a lack of appropriate support services.
This, combined with the cost of living crisis, is pushing more people into homelessness.
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SNP MP Alison Thewliss said: “This latest proposal from the home secretary is nothing short of cruel and ignorant.
“Instead of focussing on the Westminster-made cost of living crisis, the home secretary is attempting to distract people from the incompetence her department has shown in tackling homelessness.
“Homelessness is not a lifestyle choice, and never has been.”
The government’s rough sleeping snapshot for autumn 2022 said just over 3,000 people were estimated to be sleeping rough in England.
Prince William is among those campaigning on the issue and has launched a project called Homewards, which aims to bring together organisations and people to find local solutions.
