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KCNA Ministry of Foreign Affairs (EN)

U.K. Shocked by Debate over Infringement on Rough Sleepers’ Human Rights

Date: 18/04/2024 | Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (EN) | Read original version at source

Recently, debate over Government’s infringement on the human rights of the rough sleepers is shaking the U.K. society.

The controversial happened that the Home Office is considering passing a new bill to clarify that the rough sleepers will be arrested by police simply as a result of body odour.

It is known that the Government has initiated passing a new Criminal Justice Bill replacing the Homeless Bill 1824 which defined begging and rough sleeping as crimes.

The new bill gave powers to police to move on rough sleepers deemed to be causing nuisance and even to fine or jail in case of disobedience.

Noteworthy is that the current draft legislation gave powers to police to move on homeless people that cause “damage to the environment”, including “excessive noise, smells, litter or deposits of waste”.

In this regard, the UK politicians and civil organizations strongly oppose criminalizing rough sleepers for their body odour.

As the situation expands, the government makes lame excuses saying that such debate is the opposite of the intention of the current draft legislation. But the debate doesn’t cool down. Instead, even MPs join growing rebellion against the government.

They say that including body odour of rough sleepers, who often cannot afford to take a shower or go to the bathroom, in the category of nuisance is too absurd. And they also criticize the legislation for taking measures against smell of the homeless instead of solving practical problems like increase in violence and decreasing confidence in public safety.

This is the actual human rights situation in the U.K. which frequently talks about “protection of human rights”.

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