Hiding behind their spokesman, Mr Hughes-Lewis, also the owner of Jonathan David Jewellers, The Cardiff City Retail Partnership have called for the police to remove homeless people from the Streets of Cardiff for the duration of the Olympics.
Using legislation dating back to 1824 they want all ‘rogues’ and ‘vagabonds’ found sleeping rough to be removed from the City Centre or risk facing up to three months in jail.
Mr Hughes-Lewis has been quoted as saying:
“The thousands of tourists due to visit Cardiff during the next few weeks could be put off by the number of beggars and homeless people.
“If this is a law which is still in existence and South Wales Police aren’t making use of it then the question is why?
“If it’s there to be used and the Met are using it then so should we.”
He continued:
““Homeless people come to our city because the pickings are really quite rich, even more so on a match day.
“A lot of them come from places as far afield as Scotland, Newcastle and Manchester because they know it’s a soft touch, they know they are not going to be dealt with.”
This makes me wonder what sort of society we are living. I’ve been homeless in the past and know how easy it is to lose a home. You only have to take a cursory look at the accommodation offered in newspapers such as the South Wales Echo to see that rather than the ‘No Blacks’ as in Nottinghill in the 1950s, most entries stipulate ‘No DSS’ despite the facts that DSS has not existed for years and Housing Benefits are the remit of the local authority.
While on the subject of housing benefit I would like to point out that many of the people in receipt of it are, to use a hackneyed phrase ‘hard working families’. Often with both partners in full time employment, but on a very low income. To make matters worse, this autumn housing benefit across England and Wales will be reduced with tenants expected to make up the difference from their wages, JSA or income support.
I’ve read a few comment recently where people have tried to play the ‘drink and drugs’ card. I know many middle class professionals who use drink and drugs and I can imagine that if I had no home to return to every night and did not know where my next square meal was coming from then I’d probably be using them as well. As the old saying goes ‘there but for the grace of God go I’.
In response to The Cardiff City Retail Partnership’s rantings, a Facebook event has been setup at https://www.facebook.com/events/286517101456086/
The organisers told us:
“In response to proposals that homeless people be removed from the streets of Cardiff for the Olympics, we wish to plan a protest/solidarity action to show our support for the homeless people of our city and all those who commit the crime of being poor in ConDem Britain. Please join us at the Stone Circle, Bute Park, this Thursday, to plan a protest.”
The event is planned for 7pm.
