Westminster is England’s rough sleeping hotspot and the council told the Big Issue that they acted over safety fears.
Bridget and her dogs Bruce and Bambi have been on the streets for several months after a no-fault eviction. Image: Marc Davenant
A council spokesperson added that local authority outreach teams have worked with everyone living at the site and “encourage individuals who are still rough sleeping to take up the offer” of accommodation.
“The council obtained the necessary court order to clear the encampment at Adelphi Terrace, which is not a safe place to live and is disruptive to local people,” a council spokesperson said.
“We will continue to offer people support they need whether this is with housing, addiction, mental health problems to help them move away from homelessness.”
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The case highlights the difficulty of handling rising rough sleeping compassionately.
A record 13,231 people were seen sleeping rough in London in 2024-25, according to official Chain figures, while mayor of London Sadiq Khan has pledged to end rough sleeping in the capital by 2030.
Louise and Joao, who live in the encampment with dogs Simba, Bear and Lucky, lost their home due to a no-fault eviction and can’t find a new home where they can live with their dogs. Image: Marc Davenant
Ultimately, no one is safe on the streets but how homeless people are brought indoors and supported is a tricky problem to solve as rough sleeping numbers grow.
Davenant said: “This is exactly what has been happening in San Francisco since Trump was elected and we are seeing a creeping ‘Americanisation’ of the treatment of homeless people in the UK recently with a move towards criminalisation which solves nothing.”
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