Tory MPs threaten revolt over plans to criminalise rough sleeping

Ministers are facing a revolt from Conservative MPs over plans to criminalise homelessness, reports have suggested.

More than 40 Tory MPs are expected to revolt against plans in the Criminal Justice Bill which would allow the police to fine or move on “nuisance” rough sleepers.

According to the Times, senior government sources said the bill has been “paused” while ministers negotiate with MPs from the left and right of the party concerned about the plans.

Business minister Kevin Hollinrake, meanwhile, appeared reluctant to say whether he supported the bill as it stands, telling broadcasters it was “not within my auspices”.

He also emphasised it was important the government used a raft of support measures to prevent rough sleeping and said he was interested to see what Rishi Sunak has planned.

Former ministers Sir Iain Duncan Smith and Damian Green are among those who have signed amendments to the bill aimed at countering the drive to criminalise rough sleeping.

Measures tabled by Tory MP Bob Blackman aim to ensure ministers fulfil their promise to repeal the Vagrancy Act 1824, which currently criminalises rough sleeping and begging.

The government promised to do so when it passed the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act in 2022, but only when it found a suitable replacement.

Measures in the Criminal Justice Bill aim to provide this replacement, but are thought to be too widely drawn by the Tory rebels.

A second amendment from Blackman aims to clarify when police can use the new powers.

It says police should be advised that “begging or sleeping rough does not in itself amount to unreasonable conduct”, and insists officers “should balance protection of the community with sensitivity to the problems that cause people to engage in begging or sleeping rough”.

The bill was introduced to Parliament by Suella Braverman – who branded rough sleeping a “lifestyle choice” – when she was home secretary.

Asked by Times Radio if he would back the bill as it stands, Hollinrake said: “Those things are not within my auspices. I will be interested to see the legislation as it goes through and what the Prime Minister has planned.”

Asked if it was right to arrest someone for so-called nuisance rough sleeping, he added: “What is the most important thing is we provide the resources to get people off the streets and there should be those places where people can go to.

“I don’t think that should be … that shouldn’t be optional for people, if there are places that people can go to off the streets, then those people should be off the streets, they shouldn’t be lying on the streets. It is not fair to other people in our town and city centres.”

Matt Downie, chief executive of Crisis, the national homelessness charity, urged home secretary James Cleverly to “drop these cruel and unnecessary measures and focus on the real solutions” including building more social housing.

He said: “It should never have been government policy to criminalise rough sleeping, so we would be thrilled to see the back of these deeply-damaging proposals that will do nothing to support people away from the streets.”

Press Association – by David Lynch