Oxford's Green councillors have condemned the city council's attempt to fine rough sleepers. On July 19, the Labour-run Oxford City Council served Community Protection Notices to people in the city centre of 'no fixed abode', threatening them with court action for obstruction. Notices were attached to piles of belongings, such as sleeping bags, which the council believed were left in shop doorways by rough sleepers. However, many were piles of donations left by concerned residents.
Cllr David Thomas, Green Group Leader, said:
"This move by the council is totally outrageous. There's a perfectly good homeless hostel in the city centre that the council refuses to re-open [1], instead forcing men and women to sleep rough and keep their belongings safe the best way they can. This is not the first time the council has used anti-social legislation to intimidate the homeless, but threatening them with fines and a criminal record for having nowhere else to sleep is a new low."
Notes:
1. Oxford Greens have been campaigning for months to re-open Lucy Faithfull House: http://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/news/14940123.Using_reserves_to_shelter_homeless_in_freezing_cold_would_be__irresponsible_