A rough sleeping site at Grosvenor Gardens, near Victoria station, has become a focus of concern for nearby shops and businesses, who report ongoing issues with theft and drug use in the area. More than a dozen people are believed to sleep in the gardens most nights, and several local business owners have described repeated incidents of shoplifting and break-ins.
Cllr Caroline Sargent, Westminster's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Enforcement, told the Standard that the council already spends £8 million a year supporting people to move away from rough sleeping, through hostels and addiction treatment, and that most people it engages with take up that support. But she was clear that some sites also attract anti-social and, in some cases, criminal behaviour, and that this isn't something the council can solve alone. "This is totally unacceptable in the heart of a capital city," she said.
The comments come days after new Prime Minister Andy Burnham made ending rough sleeping his first policy pledge in office. Cllr Sargent welcomed that commitment and called for it to be matched with real support from national government, including the Home Office, alongside coordinated action from police, immigration enforcement and local businesses.
Separately, the Metropolitan Police said new technology allowing retailers to submit CCTV footage and evidence directly is helping officers build stronger cases against shoplifters more quickly.
Central London square overrun by 'aggressive' rough sleepers
Shopkeepers and business owners have said there has been frequent drug use and rampant theft from rough sleepers
Cllr Caroline Sargent, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Enforcement at Westminster City Council, said:
“Local people and businesses are fed up with rough sleeping sites springing up, and so are we. This is totally unacceptable in the heart of a capital city.
“As a Council we do all we can to help people sleeping rough off the streets and spend £8m a year on support ranging from hostels to addiction treatment.
“While many people we engage with support to move away from rough sleeping, some locations can also attract individuals involved in anti-social behaviour and, in some cases, criminal activity.
“Andy Burnham has pledged to end rough sleeping - we'd like to take him up on that. We need everyone to play their part - immigration, police and businesses so that we end this problem for good and this needs the urgent support of the Home Office."
