© Winfried Rothermel / Global Look Press
Fined, jailed, and convicted - the UK's homeless are facing serious criminal consequences as councils use public space protection orders (PSPOs), introduced by Theresa May, to target those sleeping rough.
Homeless people are finding themselves banned from town centers, routinely fined hundreds of pounds, or even sent to prison if they're caught repeatedly begging thanks to the PSPO laws, wielded by local authorities across England and Wales. Since local councils were given more power to combat antisocial behavior by then Home Secretary Theresa May in 2014, hundreds of fines have been issued and criminal convictions have been pursued for those caught "begging" or"loitering."
Some charities have said the strengthened powers are designed to target those sleeping on the streets. Campaigners also say that bans on drinking booze and swearing in town centers are also being used to target the homeless, but councils insist that the strengthened laws are only being used to target antisocial behavior.
In one case, a judge admitted: "I will be sending a man to prison for asking for food when he was hungry." The defendant in that case was jailed for four months for breaching a criminal behavior order (CBO) in Gloucester for begging. Another man was fined a whopping £105 ($140) after a child dropped £2 ($2.70) in his sleeping bag.
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