Police handing out rough sleeping ban leaflets to homeless, claim campaigners

A photograph of the leaflet campaigners say was handed out by police.

The police are issuing leaflets for Hackney Council’s recently revoked Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to the homeless, according to local housing campaigners.

Officers are allegedly handing out leaflets to homeless people about the now-revoked ban on rough sleeping in the borough’s so-called “hotspots”.

Hackney Council withdrew its PSPO on Monday “in light of ongoing public concern” over the measure but according to campaign group Digs two homeless men were handed leaflets yesterday (18 June) in Hackney Central informing them they were in an area “controlled by the PSPO”.

The leaflet says: “Police or council officers can ask you to stop doing anything listed on the other side of this leaflet.”

Overleaf the banned activities include begging, loitering, drinking alcohol, having a dog off a lead and sleeping in doorways or other public places.

Underneath the activities it says: “If you do not comply, you may receive an £100 fixed penalty notice or face prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.”

A campaigner outside the town hall after the PSPO was withdrawn. Photograph: Ella Jessel

Barry Watt, a member of Reclaim Hackney and a Hackney resident said he was “deeply concerned” that the leaflets were being handed out. “The PSPO was supposed to have been revoked. That this practice is continuing is worrying.

“We are treating the repeal of the PSPO as a token gesture. The party on 22 June is going ahead to highlight the fact that we do not see this issue as being closed at all.”

Chief Inspector Ian Simpkins from Hackney police said he was trying to establish what had happened.

He told the Hackney Citizen: “We’ve briefed our officers that the PSPO has been withdrawn so clearly this shouldn’t have happened, and I stress that we have not verified this has actually happened as described yet.

“But there is a possibility that some officers are still unaware so we have re-circulated [the information] this morning.”

A Hackney Council spokeswoman said: “If this did happen, it clearly shouldn’t have as the order has been withdrawn and isn’t enforceable. Police officers have been reminded again not hand out anymore leaflets.”

Update:

Chief Inspector Ian Simpkins confirmed that the “educational leaflets” were issued.

He said they were handed out by a PCSO who had recently returned to operational duties who missed the briefing due to “non functioning IT” and was therefore unaware the PSPO had been withdrawn. Hackney police have apologised on Twitter for the error.