On the subject of begging, rough sleeping and anti-social behaviour in Weymouth I feel saddened and ashamed to see the response of the borough council.

Yes, it is a disgrace that there are so many people on the street, but this shame falls on a society that does not protect its most vulnerable and marginalised. Times are hard, but the causes do not lie with people living and sleeping on the streets, they are its casualties. The homeless are products of a society that is the fifth richest country in the world. According to the homeless charity Crisis, rough sleeping is up by 169% since 2010 and rose by 15% last year alone. There are many routes to homelessness, including mental health and substance and alcohol use, but also relationship breakdown, domestic violence, poverty and the lack of truly affordable accommodation. People from the armed forces, prison and the care system are disproportionately represented among the homeless.

Weymouth’s response is based on intolerance and stereotyping. I have heard the terms ‘parasites’ and ‘vermin’ used in conversations about homeless people. In times of uncertainty and insecure jobs it is all too easy to look for convenient, simplistic, explanations - divide and rule - rather than putting the blame squarely where it belongs - on the impact of ideological austerity cuts on Health and Social Care, Welfare, the NHS (mental health services in particular)

I don’t seek to minimise the concerns of locals and holiday makers, but the punitive, legalistic response of the council is misguided and will not help to solve the issue. Yes, it can be uncomfortable and sometimes intimidating to encounter rough sleepers or alcohol users on the street, but turning a blind eye and leaving the responsibility to business people whose only concern is profit is not the answer. At best this policy will simply displace the challenge to other local communities. One of my main concerns is that people pushed out by the policy in Weymouth will simply reappear in surrounding communities such as Dorchester.(this already beginning to happen!) And as numbers increase on the streets the Council there may mirror this simplistic knee jerk reaction with punitive and intolerant use of existing legislation. Those

concerned about the welfare and rights of this group should monitor any debate and strongly challenge these priorities at local and national levels. This is survival for these groups. Do you seriously think that criminalising people for begging or sleeping rough will enhance their chances of employment and re-integration?

Homeless people should be perceived as three dimensional human beings, each with their own unique story to tell and solutions reached on an individual basis. I believe the way to affect change is to get alongside people where they are at, build meaningful relationships and develop trust, and by challenging narrow, self-righteous judgemental Victorian concepts of the deserving and undeserving poor.

Homeless people need accommodation (see Housing First), support with mental health and alcohol and substance issues, understanding, compassion, empathy and respect as human beings.

I am sure there are many like me in the community who are uncomfortable with the Council’s strategy and we need to pull together to challenge these attitudes.

Can you think of any other regimes where the ideology was based on irrational scapegoating and oppression of minority groups?

What sort of society do you want to live in? I would like to live in a community where people care and look after each other and people are put before the selfish pursuit of profit.

Kevin Reed

Dorchester