Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Homeless tents demolished in Met operation

The Met stated that they worked with University College London Hospital and other partners in response to concerns

Homeless tents demolished in Met operation

In a recent Met Police operation, homeless people's tents in central London were destroyed on Huntley Street, Camden on Friday (10).

Refuse workers, reportedly working with the police, threw the tents into a lorry.


Elodie Berland, a volunteer with the outreach organisation Streets Kitchen, recorded the scene after being called by some of the homeless individuals affected, the BBC reported.

The Met said that they worked with University College London Hospital and other partners in response to concerns.

It's understood that the hospital trust requested the dispersal of rough sleepers but not the destruction of tents.

Refuse company Veolia has been contacted for comment.

Pat Callaghan, acting leader of Camden Council, has ordered an urgent investigation into the recent incident and said the homeless men "had everything taken away from them".

Berland, a six-year resident of Camden reported that around 10 tents were destroyed, along with the men's personal belongings, as the Met issued a S35 dispersal order, which requires people to vacate the area for a maximum of 48 hours.

Expressing frustration Berland said, "It felt like it wasn't a possibility to stop them." The 49-year-old volunteer explained that efforts were made to assert the rights of the homeless individuals, but it seemed ineffective.

A spokesperson for the Met Police mentioned that one man was arrested for breaching a S35 dispersal order and taken into police custody. The spokesperson also noted that "partner organisations" are offering support to those affected.

Jon Glackin, the founder of Streets Kitchen, emphasised that homelessness is "just getting worse" in Camden.

Glackin criticised the incident, and said, "Who in their right mind would throw their personal belongings in the skip." The 53-year-old emphasised the absurdity of the criminalisation of homelessness.

He highlighted that such incidents were not uncommon and stressed the need for a "constructive community response."

To address the situation, a public meeting is being co-hosted by the organisation and local entities at St Michael's Church on Camden Road on Thursday.

Callaghan on the other hand expressed deep concern about the video, prioritising the welfare, safety, and rights of individuals experiencing homelessness.

The acting leader of Camden Council also questioned the involvement of the contracted waste operator in the operation and pledged to personally investigate the matter.

A spokesperson for University College London Hospital (UCLH) cited "public health concerns" as the reason for the action and emphasised the hospital's strong commitment to enhancing the health and well-being of homeless individuals.

The spokesperson also mentioned that UCLH provides various services to support this vulnerable group.

More For You

british-muslims-iStock

The study noted that this identification was not due to any doctrinal obligation but was influenced by the perception that many Muslims do not feel fully accepted as British. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Majority of British Muslims identify by faith first, study finds

A STUDY by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has found that most British Muslims identify primarily with their religion rather than their nationality.

The research, based on a survey of 815 British Muslim adults by Whitestone Insight, revealed that 71 per cent of respondents identified as Muslim first, while 27 per cent identified as British, English, or Scottish first.

Keep ReadingShow less
Car Tax Changes: EV Owners Now Required to Pay for the First Time

Owners of electric vehicles registered on or after 1 April 2025 will pay £10 for the first year, followed by the standard VED rate of £195 from the second year. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Car tax changes take effect: EV owners to pay for first time

FROM today, 1 April 2025, electric cars, vans, and motorcycles in the UK will be subject to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the first time.

The change, introduced in the 2022 Autumn Statement by former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, aims to make motoring taxation fairer.

Keep ReadingShow less
scotland-minimum-wages-iStock

Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will receive an annual pay increase of £1,400 in real terms. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Wage increase takes effect for thousands of workers in Scotland

HUNDREDS of thousands of workers in Scotland will see a pay increase as new National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates take effect from Tuesday.

The changes will benefit approximately 220,000 people, according to STV News.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk-energy-bill-iStock

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

April bill increases put financial strain on single parents

A RANGE of essential household bills are increasing from April, with Citizens Advice warning that single parents will be among the hardest hit.

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased, BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools
Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper in 'Adolescence'
Netflix

Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools

THE NETFLIX drama Adolescence will be shown in UK secondary schools as part of efforts to address harmful online influences on young boys, officials announced on Monday.

The show has sparked debate over the impact of toxic and misogynistic content on the internet. Prime minister Keir Starmer met the show's creators, charities, and young people at Downing Street, calling the initiative an important step in starting discussions about the content teenagers are exposed to online.

Keep ReadingShow less