Campaign group Digs are among those opposed to the PSPO in Hackney. Pic: Screen grab @hackneyrenters
Hackney Council has bowed to pressure from charities and community groups and removed references to ‘rough sleepers’ from the Public Space Protection order that came into effect earlier this month.
The original measure attracted a petition of opposition which has been signed by more than 80,000 people, including pop star Ellie Goulding who branded the measure ‘disgusting.’
The amendment of the original measure, which was made public today, changed paragraph two and three and reads as follows:
The amendments made removes references to ‘rough sleepers’ in the PSPO. Pic: Screen grab Hackney Council
The new order comes into force on 8 June.
Councillor Sophie Linden, Deputy Mayor in Hackney said: “References to ‘rough sleepers’ are being removed from Hackney’s Public Space Protection Order so that it more clearly reflects the anti-social behaviour the Order is targeting and the course of action that could be taken.”
The amendments came after Digs, a campaign group formed by renters in Hackney, held a meeting to discuss the PSPO yesterday evening, and more than 80,000 people signed an online petition aiming to repeal the order.
The group is however not satisfied with the changes made, and want the council to scrap the PSPO altogether.
Amended @hackneycouncil PSPO still discriminates against those without money or a home. It's still #NotFineWithUs
— Digs (@Hackney_renters) June 5, 2015
.@hackneycouncil do not deserve praise for listening when they didn't consult. And continuing to defend PSPO is #NotFineWithUs
— Digs (@Hackney_renters) June 5, 2015
Linden said: “Enforcement was always going to be the last resort. The point of the order was to push people into treatment, and if necessary we would seek injunctions rather than fines. We have decided to remove the reference from the Order so our intentions are clearer.”
Digs and Reclaim Hackney are organising a protest against the PSPO on 22 June.
