Petition · past parliament
Scrap PSPOs that give authorities the power to displace or fine homeless people.
Closed
46 signatures
What the petition asks
Despite updated Home Office guidance at the start of the year, which instructs councils not to target people for being homeless and sleeping rough, the Guardian has found over 50 local authorities with public space protection orders (PSPOs) in place
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/may/20/homeless-people-fined-imprisoned-pspo-england-wales
Homeless people are banned from town centres, routinely fined hundreds of pounds and even sent to prison for some repeat offenses. Local authorities in England and Wales have issued hundreds of fixed-penalty notices and pursued criminal convictions for “begging”, “persistent and aggressive begging” and “loitering” since being given strengthened powers to combat antisocial behaviour in 2014.
Homeless people are banned from town centres, routinely fined hundreds of pounds and even sent to prison for some repeat offenses. Local authorities in England and Wales have issued hundreds of fixed-penalty notices and pursued criminal convictions for “begging”, “persistent and aggressive begging” and “loitering” since being given strengthened powers to combat antisocial behaviour in 2014.
Timeline
| 29 May 2018 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 29 Nov 2018 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
46
Status
Closed
Opened
29 May 2018
Closed
29 Nov 2018
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.