Sussex Police: STOP FINING THE HOMELESS FOR BEING HOMELESS!! SIGN THE PETITION

Sussex Police: STOP FINING THE HOMELESS FOR BEING HOMELESS!! SIGN THE PETITION

Sussex Police: NO to arresting and fining rough sleepers!

•By: Frances Donnelly
 •Target: Sussex Police, United Kingdom
•
SIGN THE PETITION: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/en-gb/takeaction/576/913/589/

35,033 SUPPORTERS in United Kingdom

60,742 SUPPORTERS

65,000 GOAL

Sussex Police has been using plain clothes police officers to arrest homeless people who are then fined for begging. This approach does nothing to alleviate homelessness, instead creating a cycle of punishment and further poverty. Please sign this petition to ask the Sussex police stop arresting rough sleepers and having them fined for non-aggressive begging.
Ray Pape, a defence lawyer who works with homeless people, has seen a rise in the number of clients prosecuted for begging.
He said: “It is difficult to see why it is in the public interest … I am not talking about aggressive begging or harassment but situations where people have asked for a few pence … Is this a good use of public money?”

Many of the rough sleepers who risk begging are particularly vulnerable and desperate. Some are struggling with addiction, a problem which requires understanding and support. Arrests and unaffordable fines are not a compassionate or effective response.

Please sign this petition and demand that Sussex Police stop arresting rough sleepers. It’s time to stop the cycle of poverty and fines, and find more appropriate ways to respond to the issues facing local homeless people.

Update #13 months ago

Thanks so much for the signatures, shares and thoughtful comments. After a great community demo in Brighton to highlight the needs of rough sleepers, the petition was delivered both in person at the town hall, and electronically. It will be taken into consideration as part of the current Rough Sleepers Strategy consultation. It has also been sent to the newly appointed Police and Crime Commissioner. You can still sign, share and comment until we get this unfair practice overturned.

 Full UpdateSign Petition

60,742 supporters

Local CommentsLocal SignaturesAll

SIGN THE PETITION: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/en-gb/takeaction/576/913/589/

Laurel F.

United Kingdom

just now

Please find a way of working compassionately in partnership with these people and other agencies to find longtetm solutions.
send

Robin P.

United Kingdom

just now

How can fining people who have no money and no home be a solution to begging? Of course it’s a problem and a real issue. One that needs to be addressed in a humane and compassionate way. But for the Grace of God it could be any one of us in that situation …
send

Suella P.

United Kingdom

just now

We don’t sleep rough from choice. Support not persecute.
send

name not displayed

United Kingdom

a minute ago

Disgusting!…..leave them alone and go and solve proper crimes and attend burglaries etc! Stop picking on the weak and vulnerable like the big bullies you all are! Go and help them….give your figures to the shitty government so they can find homes for them instead of all the rubbish coming into this country!

Gordon W.

United Kingdom

just now

Go and chase some real criminals you idiots
send

Juanita S.

United Kingdom

a minute ago

Leave them alone, or rehouse them. They aren’t migrants. Most are born in UK.
send

Emily A.

United Kingdom

a minute ago

How is punishing poverty with poverty ethical in any way? These people are trying to self help to improve their status. To deny them of this right is utterly selfish. Unless the community In which they are begging in is doing something to aid and get them off the streets, then they have every right to try help themselves if the people will not.
send

Jane P.

United Kingdom

a minute ago

Find a better way to help rough sleepers. They are not doing this by choice. Help and support not punishment.
send

Anne W.

United Kingdom

a minute ago

i used to work (medic) with homeless people – and ‘arrest and fine’ does NOTHING to help this problem and can only further perpetuate homelessness and poverty
send

CARMEN R.

United Kingdom

a minute ago

For goodness sake! Sussex Police, HAVE A HEART! These people are not willingly making themselves homeless! With zero contract hours more and more people who don’t have children of school age are ending up on the streets. WHY ARE YOU PUNISHING THEM! This is an unacceptable policy – DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO CONSIDER WE ARE LIVING IN A POLICE STATE, which has happened in USA, you really want it in UK as well? Please re-think and put charity before political pressure. Thank you!
send

Paula T.

United Kingdom

a minute ago

How does fining someone for being homeless stop them being homeless?
send

Mike H.

United Kingdom

a minute ago

How on Earth is fining them any use, if they had any money they wouldn’t be sleeping rough. Stop the Austerity Bullsh*t and provide temporary accommodation instead of wasting police resources.
send

Joyce M.

United Kingdom

a minute ago

Please don’t treat rough sleepers as crminals
send

Peter E.

United Kingdom

2 minutes ago

Haven’t you anything better to do than harris homeless poor people , OK! If obstructing people’s rights of way, fine but not if they are NOT causing obvious obstructions. You have a good wage and housing included your a service, since when did the service become a privets army for the councils. Your here to defend their rights too! But for the grace of God!
send

Elizabeth H.

United Kingdom

2 minutes ago

This is a cruel and ineffective way and will only cause them more poverty and hardship, show some compassion, they need help, not fines
send

Pat B.

United Kingdom

3 minutes ago

Fine those WITH HOMES for not caring for those without.
send

Susan D.

United Kingdom

2 minutes ago

This is not an appropriate response to this problem.
send

Roger C.

United Kingdom

3 minutes ago

This is scandalous and nothing short of social cleansing. First the government manufactures homelessness then punishes its victims.
send

Nancy B.

United Kingdom

3 minutes ago

Tolerence and respect should be shown to those worse off thsn ourselves
send

SIGN THE PETITION: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/en-gb/takeaction/576/913/589/