The Metropolitan Police is today, 29 August, targeting begging and rough-sleeping hotspots across London in a multi-agency initiative, Vigilance can report.
Designed to combat the offensive consequences associated with these hotspots, action is taking place in the City of Westminster, Camden, Croydon, Islington, Lambeth and Southwark, in partnership with local authorities, Home Office Immigration Enforcement (HOIE) and other partner agencies.
Under the banner of Operation Encompass, this focused proactive operation has led to several arrests and anti-social behaviour notices being issued with a view to seeking ASBOs in due course, where appropriate.
Police officers, council wardens and HOIE officers have been working in partnership targeting those responsible for such behaviour by concentrating on engaging, disrupting and deterring rough sleeping and begging.
This operation highlights work that is carried out daily by officers and partners who proactively patrol hotspot areas to speak with those who sleep rough and beg from members of the public.
Assistance is offered through support services and arrests are made where offences are identified.
Whilst good progress has been made, these issues persist and all partnership agencies are committed to dealing with this matter in a robust and balanced way.
Metropolitan Police Service Commander Alison Newcomb, leading the operation, said: "Operation Encompass has demonstrated the benefits of a multi-agency approach aimed to reduce the number of those sleeping rough and begging, which can lead to associated anti-social behaviour and crime.
"Officers work with immigration partners to utilise legislation launched in January regarding removal from the UK, where the grounds exist. They also make referrals to outreach projects in order to help vulnerable individuals break the cycle they find themselves in when sleeping rough, while taking affirmative action against persistent offenders who break the law or cause intimidation to passing members of public.
"Begging will not be tolerated in the City of Westminster or any other London borough. Wherever possible people begging will be arrested and ASBOs sought where appropriate.
"Our activity today is ongoing with our partners who are committed and recognise that it is an issue that does not go away in a single operational action and requires a continued and consistent approach from all agencies and partners."
Westminster City Council cabinet member for community protection, Cllr Nickie Aiken, said: “I want to stress that the council and its partners go to great lengths to support those in genuine need and help them with a route away from rough sleeping.
“The UK Border Agency already has the power to send home any EU nationals not exercising their EU Treaty rights, and the council will continue to work with the UKBA and Metropolitan Police to ensure that this happens. But the fact remains that the current legislative powers available do not go far enough and still allow some people to play the system and exploit a three-month window. We need tighter regulations.”
Immigration and Security Minister James Brokenshire said: “Operations such as these demonstrate that abuse of free movement will not be tolerated, and we will take action to remove perpetrators from the UK. We work regularly with police, local authorities and other agencies to identify and deal with EU nationals who are not abiding by the rules.
“New regulations introduced on 1 January mean that any EU national removed for not fulfilling the residence requirements can now be banned from re-entering the UK for 12 months, unless they can prove they have a valid reason to be here.
“This is just one of the ways we have been working across Government to protect public services and our welfare system, and address the factors that drive European immigration to Britain.”