Injunctions against rough sleepers in Cambridge ‘encouraging them to seek support’

Injunctions against people rough sleeping in Cambridge are encouraging them to accept support.

Five men and a woman were banned from sleeping rough in the city centre, following court injunctions obtained by the council.

Police said the group had brought “misery” to people in the community due to aggressive begging, drug use and intimidation.

The court orders, which last for two years, ban the individuals from things such as sleeping or lying down at any time of the day or night in the city centre, taking drugs, begging while under the influence of drink or drugs, dropping litter and intimidating others.

The group are also banned from the car parks at The Grafton and Grand Arcade and their stairwells.

Councillors at last week’s West Central area committee heard some of those subject to the orders are now accepting help.

Sgt Kevin Misik, from Cambridgeshire Constabulary, said: “If you want help, if you want accommodation, if you want assistance, it is there and the city council and the third sector agencies that are in the city will give that support. However there are rules and there are things you should do.”

The injunctions “change the risk and reward… instead of saying ‘Actually, I can act in an entirely consequence-free manner and the other people who come to the city will just have to accept my behaviour, because either it’s of a type which is not criminal or is not of a sufficient level robust enforcement can be taken’.

“I have recently had a meeting with the market traders and there are a number of stall holders whose lives are really being made quite difficult by this behaviour.

“The work that Sarah [Steggles, the senior anti-social behaviour officer at the city council] has done will hopefully make these people make decisions that say, ‘Actually taking help is the thing I should do now, staying here and causing these problems isn’t what I should do, I should get this help, this really good quality help, and it should hopefully move those people forward’.”

Ms Steggles said: “It’s been really positive this week at the street life working group, where we discuss all these individuals including the ones we sought the injunctions against.

“A number of those are already taking positive steps because of the injunctions.

“They are now engaging with support and they are accessing the accommodation, which has been really positive.

“It is a tough action to take, but it does have some positive outcomes sometimes.

“With all these individuals it’s very much up and down and we hope we can get them to the point where they engage and remain safe.”

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