A police force has caused uproar on social media over its description of homelessness

A police force has invoked the wrath of people on social media after appearing to imply that homelessness is an “environmental” issue.

Wait, what…?

Camden Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) took to Twitter on 14 August to announce it had done a “clean up” operation at Tottenham Mews in Fitzrovia, London. It claimed it was an ‘environmental issue’. But what Camden MPS were actually ‘cleaning up’ looked like homeless people’s worldly possessions:

Environmental issues at Tottenham Mews. Photos show pre and
post clean up. #Multiagencyapproachadopted #partnershipworking @MPSBloomsbury pic.twitter.com/coz9BSyt1x

— Camden Police (@MPSCamden) August 14, 2018

Camden MPS’s tweet left people unimpressed:

I see environmental issues in the corner with the graffiti, but the main pic? I see someone's clothes, someone's bike and someone's tent, probably everything to some poor sod's name. What environmental issue and more importantly where did that stuff go? Hope you didn't steal it.

— Abacus Europa (@AbacusEuropa) August 17, 2018

https://twitter.com/ic0nik/status/1029352383023853568

https://twitter.com/DJAlphaT/status/1030517178142011392

Then the tweet was noticed by more and more social media users:

Most people would see this image and think homeless people that need help.
Not the @MPSCamden , they simply see.. pic.twitter.com/hafayrlHCn

— Streets Kitchen (@streetskitchen) August 18, 2018

Think this is the worst possible #Tweet from @metpoliceuk I've ever witnessed. Shows just how #Homelessness is treated in #London. #Utterly appalling. Guessing you've grabbed a copy should they take it down @MrTopple. Shame @MPSCamden vile behaviour @Shelter @crisis_uk @StMungos https://t.co/QzPI0QUIcI

— A Londoner's London (@LondonersLondon) August 18, 2018

Homeless people aren’t an ‘enviromental’ issue. They are people needing a home, help and support. Try walking a mile in their shoes and see what it’s like. pic.twitter.com/F9DPnadHsG

— Charlotte Hughes. The Poor Side Of life (@charlotteh71) August 18, 2018

So they can dehumanise them and not have to actually face the issue that there are human beings with nothing to their name. Councils and the @TwitterGov couldn’t care less as long as they get their wages and expenses paid. #homelessness2018 @MPSCamden https://t.co/NUBWNBziXI

— Natalie Williams-Hopkins, Author/Writer 🌈🐿 🌈 (@NatalieHopkin2) August 18, 2018

This is not the first time the authorities in Camden have come under fire for their treatment of homeless people. As The Canary previously reported, campaigners accused the police and the Labour-led council of “barbaric” behaviour after removing rough sleepers’ tents and moving them on from the canal side in Camden.

Camden MPS told the Camden New Journal at the time:

[We] do not want to criminalise people for being homeless. Our aim is to help the many vulnerable people who live on the streets by attempting engagement and offering diversion options… Any enforcement action that is undertaken is only used when people refuse to engage and have refused diversion on at least two occasions.

Homelessness: out of control

Meanwhile, the catastrophe for homeless people and rough sleepers continues across the country. As The Canary‘s Nye Jones wrote recently:

On 12 August, the government announced its rough sleeping plan. And it’s a truly pitiful response to England’s rough sleeping crisis, with no new money being promised and no reforms of punitive welfare policies.

The government says this is part of its strategy to end rough sleeping by 2027…

Homeless deaths have more than doubled in the last five years, with rough sleeping now reaching crisis levels.

The government is seemingly wringing its hands over the crisis. Police forces compound the issue if they use irresponsible and damaging rhetoric. Homelessness and rough sleeping is a catastrophe that should shame our public servants. Instead they just make matters worse.

Get Involved!

– Support housing campaigns like Focus E15, London Renters Union, Greater Manchester Housing Action, ACORN, Streets Kitchen, Balfron Social Club, Save Our Homes LS26, Ledbury Action Group, and Generation Rent.

Featured image via Peeper – Wikimedia and Camden MPS – screengrab