Police deny officers were told to move homeless on

ONE of South Wales’ top police officers has issued a statement denying there is a blanket order to move the homeless out of Cardiff city centre during the Champions League final weekend.

The statement, issued yesterday, comes after five homeless people said they had been told to either leave the city by police officers ahead of the showpiece event, or risk being arrested for public order offences.

South Wales Police initially responded by confirming each of the officers patrolling the city centre “has the mandate” to use antisocial behaviour laws to move people on.

Acting chief constable Richard yesterday issued a fresh statement following a public outcry on the issue.

As reported in yesterday’s paper, homeless people claimed they had been told to move on.

Scott Morgan, 37, from Cwmbran, said: “I think it’s disgusting. Yet again they are treating the homeless like scum and that we need to be hidden away. They are ashamed of us. It’s really insulting that people don’t want us in the city centre.”

Another homeless man – Stuart Davies, 35, from Brynmawr – said he had been told he was not allowed in the city centre from yesterday until Monday.

He added: “If I’m caught, they said they would give me a Section 35 and they’ll put me in jail.”

Police initially said a dedicated team of officers patrol the area to ensure people are “able to go about their business without being affected by crime or antisocial behaviour”, adding anyone who is causing harassment or behaving anti-socially may be asked to move on under Section 35 powers.

But Acting Chief Constable Lewis yesterday said: “There has been no direction given to police officers to ask homeless people to move away from the city centre.

“Police officers, dealing with homeless people, who are often vulnerable, provide as much support as possible and always signpost individuals to agencies for further help. There are general powers available to us to ask people to leave an area, in relation to crime or antisocial behaviour (Section 35).

“However, we can confirm that within the last 48 hours, these powers have not been used by any officer.”

Cardiff council leader Huw Thomas said: “Street begging and homelessness is an issue which affects every city in the UK and we have been working hard with our partners to support these vulnerable people on a one-to-one basis