Information reaching Kossyderrickent has it that VEOLIA have disposed of tents belonging to the homeless in Camden as Camden Council put tents at the back of bin lorries around University College Hospital (UCH).
It comes a week after home secretary Suella Braverman said sleeping rough was a “lifestyle choice” and was reported to be planning a crackdown on tents in urban areas. She was also said to be proposing fines for charities that provide people on the streets with tents by making it a civil offence.
Section 35 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act gives police the power to exclude a person from an area for a period of up to 48 hours.
A Met Police spokesperson said: “Officers worked with University College London Hospital NHS Trust and other partners in response to concerns about approximately ten tents near the entrance to the hospital in Huntley Street.
Footage by Streets Kitchen, which supports those sleeping on the streets, appeared to show some tents being thrown into a waste disposal truck.
Camden Council has since vowed an “urgent” investigation into the dispersal, saying it was “concerned” that its waste contractor appeared to have been involved.
Pat Callaghan, acting council leader, said: “We are deeply concerned to see these videos and I am ordering an urgent investigation into what happened.
“Nothing is more important to us than the welfare, safety, and rights of every person who is experiencing homelessness. Glackin said around ten tents were destroyed and there were no homeless outreach officers from the Labour-run council there to support the people being evicted.
“These guys have been there for months and the area is always tidy and clean,” he added.
Streets Kitchen, which supports hundreds of people experiencing homelessness each week, has already launched a winter fundraiser due to rising demand and is now vowing to replace all the tents. A UCLH spokesperson said: “Following public health concerns, the police have helped to relocate some people sleeping outside the Grafton Way Building, a hospital treating immunocompromised patients.”
Camden Council initially said it had had “no role in enforcing this eviction” but following further investigation has now committed to an “urgent investigation”.
Acting council leader Pat Callaghan said: “We are deeply concerned to see these videos.A UCLH spokesperson said: “Following public health concerns, the police have helped to relocate some people sleeping outside the Grafton Way Building, a hospital treating immunocompromised patients.”
Camden Council initially said it had had “no role in enforcing this eviction” but following further investigation has now committed to an “urgent investigation”.
Acting council leader Pat Callaghan said: “We are deeply concerned to see these videos.
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