Homeless people in the East End of London now face being fined up to £1,000 for sleeping rough. Hackney Council’s Public Space Protection Order bans people from sleeping in public areas with officers issuing £100 on the spot fines to homeless people.
Add to this any court costs – and the fine quickly escalates to £1000.
#london councils to fine #Homeless people £100 rising to £1,000 in court, Stupid isn't even the word #outraged http://t.co/t3uDm0uMNa
— Leo Scanlon (@Londonlad85) June 3, 2015
However, Sputnik News has learned that the on the spot fine is already being ridiculed by other authorities in London.
Caught short without a handkerchief, that’s £80 please. In a London wide crack down on spit, Local Councils have made spitting in public an offence, for which people can be fined as much as £500.
Homeless people to be fined £1,000. This is not the right message to give to people in crisis http://t.co/0T2DDoG7vq pic.twitter.com/T28Pc7nj0O
— Buttle UK (@ButtleUK) June 3, 2015
As for what else you do in public – make sure it’s not carrying a wooden plank across a pavement. That’ll be £500, please.
Yes, it’s an offence to walk across a pavement from a DIY shop to your car carrying a plank.
And if you’ve parked your car too far away from the curb, that’s £70, please.
Traffic wardens armed with rulers and their notebooks can fine a driver for parking a car more than 19 inches away from the curb. Cracking down on “thoughtless motorists who demonstrate this inconsiderate, and in some cases reckless, behavior”.
As for being inconsiderate — an antiquated law left over from the Metropolitan Police Act, 1829, means it’s still an offence to beat your carpet in the street. So a spot of spring cleaning can land you with a fine of £200. Unless of course, you beat that dusty rug before 8 'o clock in the morning.
