Windsor official backs homeless crackdown for royal wedding

A political storm is brewing ahead of Prince Harry’s and Meghan Markle’s May 19 wedding over whether to crack down on homeless people and beggars in the well-to-do English town of Windsor.

The wedding will be held at Windsor Castle, the town’s most famous landmark and a favoured residence of Queen Elizabeth II. It is expected to draw thousands of extra visitors to the picturesque riverside town 32 kilometres west of London that is already popular with international tourists.

Borough council leader Simon Dudley kicked off the controversy by tweeting over the Christmas holidays about the need to clean up Windsor’s streets. He then wrote to police and Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May suggesting that action be taken to reduce the presence of beggars and the homeless.

Dudley referred to an “epidemic” of homelessness and vagrancy in Windsor and suggested many of those begging in the town are not really homeless. He said the situation presents a beautiful town in an unfavourable light.

The prime minister said Thursday she does not agree with Dudley’s call for police action, emphasizing that councils like the one Dudley heads must act to help the homeless.

“I think it is important that councils work hard to ensure that they are providing accommodation for those people who are homeless,” said May.

Homeless charities reacted angrily Thursday to his suggestion that homelessness should be treated as a police matter so Windsor can make a positive impression on visitors during the royal nuptials. They also rejected the assertion that Windsor’s homeless were living on the streets by choice.

Greg Beales, a spokesman for Shelter, said people sleeping on the streets are in desperate need of help, particularly in winter when the weather can be dangerously cold.