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The Guardian

A UK politician has demanded that the police remove all homeless people from the borough containing Windsor Castle before Prince Harry marries American actress Meghan Markle.
Simon Dudley, the leader of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead – also home to Eton College and Ascot racecourse – wrote to Thames Valley police this week seeking action against “aggressive begging and intimidation” and “bags and detritus” accumulating on the streets.
The letter follows a series of tweets sent by Dudley while on a skiing holiday in Wyoming over Christmas.
In those missives he referred to “an epidemic of rough sleeping and vagrancy in Windsor” and said “residents have had enough of this exploitation of residents and 6 million tourists pa [per annum]”.

Sadly there is an epidemic of rough sleeping and vagrancy in #Windsor @RBWM. I will be writing to @StansfeldPCC copying @TVP_Chief @Bhupinderrai70 at @ThamesVP @TVP_Windsor asking for them to focus on dealing with this before the #RoyalWedding
— Simon Dudley (@MrSimonDudley) December 27, 2017

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Tens of thousands of well-wishers and tourists are expected to descend on the picturesque town, located on the banks of the River Thames. for the wedding on May 19 in St George’s chapel at Windsor Castle.
The castle, founded in the 11th century, is one of the royal family’s main residences and where the queen spends most weekends. It is open to the public, attracting 1.36 million visitors each year.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to marry on May 19 at Windsor Castle
Dudley’s letter, dated on January 2 and addressed to Anthony Stansfield, the police and crime commissioner for Thames Valley, thanks the police for protecting the community.
It also lists the council’s support services for vulnerable residents, including an emergency night shelter, a drug and alcohol support service, and a severe weather emergency protocol.
“Homelessness is completely unacceptable in a compassionate community such as ours,” he says.
However, he goes on to say that the council has evidence that “a large number of adults that are begging in Windsor are not in fact homeless, and if they are homeless they are choosing to reject all support services … In the case of homelessness among this group, it is therefore a voluntary choice.”

Dudley also raised concerns about “the quantities of bags and detritus that those begging are accumulating and leaving on our pavements, at times unattended … this is a significant security concern, especially given the national importance of Windsor.
“Obviously, the level of tourist interest is set to multiply with the Royal Wedding in May 2018, and there are increased concerns from our residents about their safety.
“The whole situation also presents a beautiful town in a sadly unfavourable light.”
He suggests that Thames Valley police use their powers under existing laws – citing the 1824 Vagrancy Act and the 2014 Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act – “including implementing criminal behaviour orders for the numerous offenders”.
The Vagrancy Act criminalises rough sleeping and begging.
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Dudley’s letter is copied to Prime Minister Theresa May, who is the MP for Maidenhead, and the home secretary, Amber Rudd.
Wisdom Da Costa, an independent councillor, said he disagreed with Dudley’s approach. “I don’t believe banging them [homeless people] up is the right thing to do,” he said.
“What we need is a multi-agency approach, and that means putting money behind an effort to get people off the streets and dealing with the issues.”
Da Costa said homelessness had become “more visible and more persistent” in the town centre over the past year, but said he had not encountered harassment.
“I’ve been delighted by the response of hundreds of people in Windsor, who have provided food and blankets, who care about these people and want decent solutions,” he said.
Windsor was “a beautiful place, but there is poverty here, areas of deprivation. We are one people and we need to work together.”
Sam White, 18, who has lived in Windsor all his life, said he got to know most of the homeless people in the town centre over the past six months since starting work in the box office of the Theatre Royal. “There are quite a few now. If you walk down the High Street, you might see six or seven, but there are obviously more hidden away,” he said.
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“They don’t cause a threat to anyone. I’ve never seen any of them being aggressive. Obviously some have issues like drug addiction, but they’re nice people at the absolutely lowest point in their lives.”
He objected to the idea of a police drive to clear people out for the royal wedding, saying: “I’m sure if the council offered homeless people food and shelter for the day, they would agree to take themselves off the streets.”

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Royalty

Get rid of homeless before Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal wedding, says UK politician

epa06401551 A homeless man in central London, Britain 21 December 2017. The number of homeless across Britain has increased by more than 60 per cent over the last five years, according to the National Audit Office. The watchdog states that the rise is 'likely to have been driven' by the government's welfare reforms. EPA-EFE/ANDY RAIN

Tents and possessions belonging to Kevin, aged 50 and Bryan, aged 51, are lined up where they live on the street outside Piccadilly Theatre in London, Britain. A Windsor council leader wants the homeless removed ahead of the royal wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in May 2018. Photo; Reuters

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