A council has been called “cruel and callous” for proposing £1,000 fines to homeless people sleeping in tents in the city centre.
Though only currently at the consultation stage, the PSPO would cover the city centre, Hanley park, Festival park and Octagon retail park.
We do have a growing problem with homelessness here in Stoke-on-Trent, but punishing people for their misfortune is no way to fix it.
“It’s right and proper that the police take action to stop antisocial behaviour on our streets, but punishing the homeless simply for being homeless is appalling.
“We’re not going to solve the issues or causes around this by criminalising or punishing those who end up sleeping on our streets.
A Stoke-on-Trent city council spokesman said: “No one is being fined for sleeping in a tent.
The city council has given one of its buildings to be used as the Macari Centre for homeless people, alongside work in partnership with organisations including Brighter Futures, Salvation Army, YMCA, Voices. »