Criminal Justice Bill: Woman tells of ‘terrifying’ torment of sleeping rough from the age of 16

Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Criminal Justice Bill is stigmatising and scapegoating people for their misfortune.” Her comments come as new national government figures show a 22 per cent increase in women sleeping rough between 2022 and 2023 – rising from 464 to 568. “We know that women are already at disproportionate risk of violence, harassment and sexual abuse when sleeping rough,” Francesca Albanese, of homelessness charity Crisis, said. “The broad definition of ‘nuisance’ means that these locations may be a particular target through the proposed new powers forcing already vulnerable women into more dangerous situations.” Ms Boobis warned those women who are sleeping rough are often enduring “extremely poor mental health” – adding that if the legislation fails to deliver the housing and healthcare support they need, it “risks penalising people for the trauma of being homeless”. “We recognise women sleeping rough can be less visible and need specific support, which is why we are investing £547m over three years through the rough sleeping initiative so that councils can deliver the tailored support needed locally.” But Alicia Walker, of Centrepoint, a youth homelessness charity, firmly disagreed, branding the Criminal Justice Bill a “wrong-headed legislation that will criminalise vulnerable people who need support”.