The government has scrapped plans that critics argued would have “criminalised” homelessness following a backlash from Conservative MPs.
The Criminal Justice Bill – which originally contained provisions to target “nuisance begging” – has now been watered down by the government to quell a mounting rebellion of about 40 backbenchers.
Homelessness charity Crisis welcomed the changes but warned the “premise of the proposed laws remains the same”.
MPs had raised objections to the bill’s stated aim of combatting “nuisance begging”, which could have targeted people sleeping in a doorway, those creating “excessive smell” or those who are “looking like they are intending to sleep on the streets”.
The original version would also have given police or local authorities the power to issue “nuisance begging directions” to move people on, with a failure to comply potentially resulting in a month in prison.
Instead, following objections from 40 Conservatives from the right and left of the party, the bill will make clear that police and local authorities must prioritise directing people who are sleeping rough to support services before they consider using criminal sanctions.
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The government will also remove references to odours in the bill to “clarify” that previous references to “smells” had been intended to tackle rubbish dumped or human waste and not to wrongly criminalise those who are unable to wash.
Those who continue to cause disruption despite being directed to support services and given a warning will be required to move on with a rough sleeping notice.
Among the MPs who had objected to the plans were Tories: Bob Blackman, Nickie Aiken, Tracey Crouch, Selaine Saxby, Stephen Hammond, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Jo Gideon, Caroline Nokes, Derek Thomas, John Penrose and Damian Green.
Speaking to The Times last month, Mr Blackman said many of his colleagues believed the bill…
