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Theresa May criticises Windsor councillor for homelessness comments
Theresa May has criticised the leader of Windsor & Maidenhead Council for his demands that police “take action” against rough sleepers before next year’s royal wedding.
Speaking to the BBC, the prime minister, who is MP for Maidenhead, said: “I don’t agree with the comments that the leader of the council has made.
“I think it is important that councils work hard to ensure that they are providing accommodation for those people who are homeless, and where there are issues of people who are aggressively begging on the streets then it’s important that councils work with the police to deal with that aggressive begging.”
The councillor, Simon Dudley, is also a board member of the Homes and Communities Agency, and recently sent a letter to Thames Valley Police insisting on legal action against rough sleepers.
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He suggested in the letter that the wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, which will take place in Windsor in May, “will focus minds”.
Mr Dudley also called on the police to use the Vagrancy Act to remove rough sleepers from the town, saying that the situation “presents a beautiful town in a sadly unfavourable light”.
Anthony Stansfeld, police and crime commissioner for Thames Valley, responded in a statement: “Supporting the vulnerable, including the homeless, is a priority within my Police and Crime Plan and I have previously provided funding to homeless shelters in Berkshire.
“I also provide a Community Safety Fund to local authorities which allows them to fund any local priorities they may have to prevent crime and improve community safety and this year provided Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead with nearly £150,000.”
