UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faces significant backlash and a potential backbench rebellion over plans to "criminalise homelessness," with critics within his own party and from various sectors slamming the proposed legislation. Former Met Police DCI Mike Neville criticized the move, suggesting the police have more pressing issues to address. The bill has sparked a revolt among Tories and has been described as potentially short-lived, especially if a cabinet minister starts disagreeing publicly. Key aspects of the proposed law, such as arresting individuals "if they smell," have been widely condemned, with Government Minister Gillian Keegan struggling to defend these provisions. The controversy extends beyond the UK, as the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear "Grants Pass v. Johnson," a case that could have major implications for homelessness laws nationwide. Civil rights groups and homeless advocates have rallied against criminalizing homelessness, arguing for a housing-first approach under the banner "HousingNotHandcuffs" and urging the court to maintain a ban on encampment sweeps and oppose "criminal penalties."
Existing in public is not a crime. #SCOTUS must not allow unhoused people to be criminalized for not having access to shelter. Our amicus brief w/@RepCori explains that enforcing public camping laws against unhoused people is cruel & unusual punishment. https://t.co/EzJYf2bFF5
Proud to join elected leaders across the country in this @LocalProgress amicus brief in Grants Pass V Johnson. 156 local elected leaders signed on to tell #SCOTUS that what local governments need is more #housing and resources that meet people’s needs, not criminalize to them. https://t.co/1zi9jKvRS6
A host of Democratic legislators have filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in opposition to subjecting unhoused people to criminal penalties. https://t.co/Ti8yaiwFmG
Unhoused people deserve dignity and support, not criminalization. Today, SCOTUS is hearing arguments on whether cities can criminalize unhoused people for sleeping outside. I’m joining @RepCori to urge SCOTUS to reject the criminalization of unhoused people just for existing.
Existing is not a crime. SCOTUS must not allow cities to criminalize our unhoused neighbors for not having access to shelter. I led my colleagues in filing an amicus brief to SCOTUS urging the Court not to criminalize unhoused people for simply existing. https://t.co/P9yUpyaXqG
A Supreme Court case could have sweeping impacts on how homelessness is handled in the Philly region. Here's what you need to know ↓ via @MarcusBiddle3 https://t.co/wvGs5H6yYC
“How is criminalizing homelessness and fining the most vulnerable people in society who already have nothing going to address the underlying issues which cause rough sleeping? No one should be punished for being homeless - no one, it’s obscene” https://t.co/32BNHfjdjY
🚨🚨 This. This. @PeterStefanovi2 is absolutely 100 % right to excoriate the UKG's new Criminal Justice Bill giving powers to police to crack down on homeless people, rough sleepers and which criminalises failures to act in line with rough sleeping prevention orders and notices. https://t.co/r6fXHhg338
Criminalising homelessness & fining people for having nothing of their own is the most nasty, Victorian, absolutely obscene & utterly useless piece of legislation imaginable If you agree RT this widely to let @RishiSunak know https://t.co/32BNHfjdjY
Criminalising homelessness & fining people for having nothing of their own is the most nasty, Victorian & absolutely obscene piece of legislation imaginable @reid6peter @CAA_Official @RealGaryWebster @campbellclaret @reece_dinsdale @DeborahMeaden @carolvorders @JohnCleese https://t.co/32BNHfjdjY
The Government’s plan to criminalise homelessness - you heard that right - CRIMINALISE HOMELESSNESS is a vile & shameless attempt to blame the most vulnerable members of our society for the national shame of its own abject failure Everyone please watch & RT this shocking report https://t.co/EnTOZmrbhQ
Ministers mull amending new laws to tackle 'nuisance' rough sleepers after backlash over claims they will see homeless 'arrested for the way they smell' https://t.co/uxchcqUGWL https://t.co/SI9P2f3FXz
'Should rough sleepers be criminalised for how they smell?' Labour's @darrenpjones says 'I don't understand how it could be enforced. Are you going to ask a police officer to make a judgement if somebody smells? The whole thing is ridiculous' https://t.co/9wVgyfhVGs 📺 Sky 501 https://t.co/XJQmTQOgUc
'It is a human rights abuse to let people live and die on our streets.' When homelessness is "moved to criminal justice issues" it signals that the govt has "lost the plot" says former rough sleeper Lord @johnbirdswords. https://t.co/BCMGCV3cHN https://t.co/jZQ4GYRPlI
'How are you going to enforce this? By sniffing people?' Founder of The Big Issue Magazine, Lord @johnbirdswords says the government's plan to criminalise homelessness is "just a waste of time". https://t.co/xItZsH7tea 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube https://t.co/dC5dCTFlkW
This month, the Supreme Court will decide whether a law in Oregon that criminalizes camping is unconstitutional. The case will have major implications for the nearly 700,000 homeless Americans across the US. https://t.co/na8H84kO2P
Civil rights groups and homeless advocates have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to maintain a ban on encampment sweeps of people who have nowhere else to go, and accused leaders in California and San Francisco of using a court case to hide their own failings. https://t.co/ial6nwoc55
Just filed amicus brief on this months Supreme Court hearing on Homelessness. Why did CA's Governor and SF's Mayor ask SCOTUS to hear a case to overturn a ruling barring cities from jailing people for sleeping with a blanket in a town with no shelter? More briefs coming tomorrow https://t.co/3jTbcOyXCJ
Former San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin and homelessness advocates say a forthcoming U.S. Supreme Court ruling may cause harm to the city’s most vulnerable. https://t.co/oYnpoSGybq
Supreme Court poised to make stunningly cruel decision in criminalizing homelessness | Opinion https://t.co/PLevzlF2eT
New! We've united with 30+ SF orgs in filing an amicus curiae brief in Grants Pass v. Johnson—a Supreme Ct case that will decide if people can be criminalized for being too poor to afford rent. SF & CA must implement a housing-first approach to homelessness.#HousingNotHandcuffs https://t.co/ENb6RpFQgM
Later this month, the Supreme Court will hear a case brought by plaintiffs in Oregon who are contesting a law that criminalizes camping. They argue that the Constitution applies to everyone, regardless of whether they have access to housing. https://t.co/na8H84llSn
Gillian Keegan unable to defend provisions in crime bill suggesting rough sleepers could be arrested if they smell - https://t.co/INbO8Uon85
The Government vowed to end laws that punish people sleeping rough. Instead, they're proposing even harsher penalties for those experiencing homelessness, people who are already at the sharpest end. I’m pleased to see strong opposition to the Criminal Justice Bill's powers. https://t.co/n1HEWXROt8
Gillian Keegan says that homeless people shouldn't be targeted by police for smelling Here's what the proposed law she's defending says https://t.co/gArbCSYiUS https://t.co/kyKBgPMGLr
Rishi Sunak's bill to criminalise homelessness won't last long when a cabinet minister starts disagreeing with it on live TV after they're presented with its details https://t.co/h5byPhSL4s
Watch as a Govt minister explains a new law to arrest rough sleepers if they smell… #KayBurley AB https://t.co/nliXkPtrWJ
#KayBurley: The crime bill states that roughs sleepers might be considered a nuisance if they smell... so if you smell you might be arrested? Gillian Keegan: The most important thing.. KB: It's not funny... should people be arrested if they smell? GK: No https://t.co/D9gOj9g5Ig
#RishiSunak Faces Revolt From Party As UK PM Moves To Criminalise Homelessness https://t.co/OWgMqdGaRW
#RishiSunak faces revolt over new homelessness law: Report https://t.co/Vx6nGPTHi9 https://t.co/4wMYA3SFEC
Former Met Police DCI Mike Neville slams Rishi Sunak's plans to 'criminalise homelessness', as the Tories face a backbench rebellion. "You'd think the Government would realise the police have enough to do! They have other things to deal with." @JJAnisiobi https://t.co/6SU2LSLYue