A charming UK city steeped in history has been deemed ‘too dangerous’ by locals because of beggars on the high street.
Winchester, a cathedral city often voted among the best places to live in the UK, has now got an ‘intimidating’ atmosphere, families have claimed, saying they were too scared to visit the quaint city centre because of homeless people asking for money.
A council meeting was held to debate on whether to extend the Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO), which currently only cover drinking in public.
Winchester, which was ranked the UK’s least affordable city by Halifax in 2021, could see its PSPO rules widened to cover begging, littering, and some busking in a crackdown on antisocial behaviour.
It came after people from surrounding villages raised concerns about being fearful of public drunkenness, aggressive begging and a ‘threatening atmosphere’.
The Hampshire city has been run by a Liberal Democrat council since 2019.
Conservative councillor Caroline Horrill said: ‘I have residents who say they don’t come in (to the city) because they find it intimidating and unpleasant that they are approached (by beggars).’
Lib Dem Councillor Christopher Westwood disputed the claim that the city is ‘dystopian’.
Winchester in Hampshire has often been voted among the best places to live in the UK, but is now fighting a beggar problem, locals say
Homeless people in Winchester in 2023. The problem has grown for locals, who have held a council meeting to decide whether to extend the Public Spaces Protection Orders
A council meeting heard how families don’t want to venture into the city centre (pictured) because of the homeless population asking for money
He said: ‘It is not a dangerous city. It is a great place but at certain times there is a perception that it is not safe enough for certain groups in our society.’
PSPOs give the police and other officials the power to issue fixed penalty notices (FPN).
David Ingram, the Service Lead of Public Protection, said the number of FPNs issued is low, suggesting they are a limited deterrent.
But he added the number of officers walking the streets is low and offending must be witnessed first-hand.
He said: ‘We get regular complaints from local businesses as regards to busking,’ saying on occasions it can be ‘intolerable.’
‘The PSPO need to be targeted. You cannot target specific groups, for example the homeless.’
Lib Dem Councillor Adrian Brophy added: ‘This is a Liberal Democrat-run council and civil liberties should be top of the list.
‘You are asking us to give power to police and third party agencies. Giving people the power to go to vulnerable people and criminalise them and push them further in to a state of marginalisation.’
A homeless tent by Winchester Castle’s wall in 2022. People from the surrounding villages have raised concerns about public drunkenness, aggressive begging and a ‘threatening atmosphere’
Winchester had an average house price of £630,000 last year, according to Zoopla
The current PSPO for alcohol drinking in the city centre expires in September and work is being done to renew it.
A report is being prepared for Cabinet about the PSPO options so the council can make a decision.
According to Zoopla, the average house price in Winchester last year was over £630,000.
