Sign our letter to Manchester City Council about the Proposed Public Space Protection Order
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Below is a letter to Manchester City Council outlining our concerns about their public space protection order which will further marginalise already vulnerable people without consideration to addressing the complex circumstances and policy decisions that lead people to be homeless. If anyone wants to get in touch regarding this letter please contact us on - [email protected]

​Please sign our letter using the button below:

Dear, Manchester City Council

Re: Proposed Public Space Protection Order

Psychologists for Social Change are a group of mental health professionals and advocates. Our focus centers on the application of psychological knowledge to inform policy and political action. As a group we are significantly concerned with Manchester City Council’s proposal for a new Public Space Protection Order. We have outlined our concerns in this letter.

Our primary concern is that this proposal does not address the root causes of the issue it attempts to target. Legal threats will not stop people from sleeping on the streets, as rough sleeping is not a lifestyle choice. Every rough sleeper on the streets of Manchester is a product of political decision making that has targeted the most vulnerable members of our communities. Rough sleeper numbers have risen by 165% since 2010. This is a result of welfare cuts to individuals, austerity measures depleting council resources, and the rollout of Universal Credit (which has led to an increase in evictions from Council properties and reduced support for individuals at risk of losing their homes). At the point of becoming a rough sleeper, individuals have likely endured significant hardship and trauma. They are more likely to be experiencing physical health difficulties, mental health difficulties as well as depleted social and family support. Whilst it is acknowledged that rough sleepers may engage in behaviours such as substance use and crime, it is once again emphasised that such behaviours are very rarely a ‘choice’ and may be more accurately understood as a survival strategy.

Furthermore, we suggest that it is likely that the majority of individuals who are fined under this order will not have the financial resources to make the payment. We therefore question what the cost of chasing up unpaid fines would amount to, and whether channeling financial resources into prevention would be a more cost-effective and sustainable strategy. Thus, we argue that criminalising these behaviours is not a progressive way forward; it does not address the underlying causes of the problem, it merely pushes the problem out of sight and could be costly. Finally, we find this proposal contradictory to messages and values set out within Manchester City councils own homelessness strategy- which emphasises; the need to ‘address inequalities’, ‘create environments in which people can thrive’ and ensure that ‘personal circumstances are not a barrier to accessing services and opportunities’ by providing extra support to ‘those who might need it to overcome these structural issues’. It also at odds with Andy Burnham’s efforts to reduce homelessness.

Homelessness continues to be a prevalent issue because social injustices are systematically tolerated. We urge Manchester City Council to take a step forward in no longer tolerating these injustices and focus their efforts on developing initiatives that strive to support people to stay in their homes and tackle the issues surrounding homelessness and rough sleeping by engaging with health and social care systems, as opposed to criminal justice systems.
As a group, Psychologists for Social Change strongly oppose the proposed Public Space Protection Order. However, in recognition of the fact that merely opposing policies is unlikely to drive social change, we also offer our professional expertise to Manchester City Council and would welcome the opportunity to discuss ways in which issues surrounding rough sleeping in Manchester could be addressed in a way that promotes well-being.

Signed:
  1. Psychologists for Social Change - North West
  2. Charlotte Thompson- Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  3. Stephanie Davis Le Brun - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  4. Dr Helen McGauley - Clinical Psychologist
  5. Dr Hayley Higson - Clinical Psychologist
  6. Charlie Piper - Manchester Health Care Professional
  7. Carolyn Kagan - Professor Emerita Manchester Metropolitan University
  8. Jen Daffin - Clinical Psychologist in Training, 
  9. Reece Garcia - Lecturer
  10. Steve Flatt
  11. Luisa Sadler - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  12. Rhona Brown - Clinical Psychologist
  13. Natalie Sowter - trainee clinical psychologist
  14. Jonathan Graham - Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner
  15. Stephen Finlayson- Homeless people are our fellow citizens. They need our support and solidarity.
  16. Hannah Quilley - Housing Team Leader, Missing Link Housing
  17. Senior Lecturer in Media Psychology - University of Salford
  18. Dr Emma L Briant
  19. Dr Simon Goodman - Assistant Professor
  20. Annie Faulds - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  21. Harvey Guest - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  22. Jamie Farrar-Armiger
  23. Neil Kalidas - Commerical Director
  24. Dr Andrea Flood - Clinical Psychologist/University Clinical Teacher
  25. Pauline Ratcliffe - very concerned person -Social cleansing on ANY level is NOT acceptable
  26. Geraldine Wall
  27. Joanna Taylor
  28. Dr Kate Adkins - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  29. Fiona Greaves
  30. Sarah Tully - Trainee Clinical Psychologist 
  31. Dr Kerry Irving - Clinical Psychologist
  32. Sophie Harrison - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  33. Dr Anna Duxbury - Clinical Psychologist
  34. Dr Joanna Wilde - Consultant Psychologist
  35. Nicholas Little - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  36. Stacey Boardman - Assistant Psychologist
  37. Sophie Collin - Trainee Clinical Psychologist (Sheffield)
  38. Anna Daiches - Clinical Psychologist
  39. Chris Young - Concerned citizen
  40. James Harley - homeless support worker
  41. Clare Clarke - RMHN
  42. Dawn
  43. Kathleen Harvey - retired teacher. Labour Party member and Manchester resident
  44. Homeless Project Manchester
  45. Cormac Duffy - Clinical Psychologist
  46. Jay Thomas -Trainee Clinical Psych
  47. Camilla Hogg -Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  48. James Taylor - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  49. Annaliese Jowsey - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  50. Catharine Shipley - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  51. Edward fogg
  52. Chloe Smith - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  53. Bethan Ward - Trainee Clinical Psychologist)
  54. Katy Jones - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  55. ​Erika Cantrell - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  56. Fabia Slaughter - Assistant Psychologist
  57. ​Deborah Graham
  58. Reverend Deborah Jane Hodson - Psychotherapist and Clinical Hypnotherapist
  59. Dr Luke Squires - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  60. Alexandra Boughey -Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  61. Jessica Deol - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  62. Miss Emma Limon - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  63. Jayne O’Brien -Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  64. Kimberley Kershaw
  65. Charlotte Hames - trainee clinical psychologist
  66. Hasan Waheed -Trainee Clinical Psychologist)
  67. Phil Docherty - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  68. Rebecca - trainee psychologist
  69. Rebecca Sutton - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  70. Rob Woodhouse - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  71. Mari Avakian -Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  72. Elizabeth Turner - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  73. Chloe Crompton - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  74. Brendan Dunlop - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  75. Hannah Gosling -Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  76. ​Laura Phalp
  77. George Kalampalikis - Youth & Community worker / Social Worker
  78. ​Katy Lloyd-Davison
  79. Angela kilroy
  80. Charlotte Baker -Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  81. ​Stephanie Roebuck -Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  82. Liz Tane - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  83. Molly Rhinehart - trainee clinical psychologist
  84. Charlotte Jewell - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  85. ​Catherine - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  86. Hayley Slater - trainee clinical psychologist
  87. ​Charlotte Smart - Trainee Psychologist
  88. ​Philomena Keane - This country is criminalising people needing support, due to structural issues i.e. austerity measures.​
  89. Ruth Howard -Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  90. Nikki Canovi
  91. Dr Rachael Faulkner - Clinical Psychologist
  92. ​Jess Smith - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  93. Pauline O’Malley -  PWP - This inhumane and potentially life threatening policy is cruel and unnecessary. Any money you would put into this would be better spent on finding homes or accommodations for people
  94. Liz Robins - Criminal Justice professional​
  95. Jon B Coldwell - Consultant Clinical Psychologist
  96. ​Ann Raymond- We don't criminalise anyone else with health issues. Why do it to homeless people?
  97. Laura Twist - Clinical Psychologist
  98. Samantha Harpur -Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  99. Dr Ioanna Tantanasi
  100. Craig Eastham
  101. Anne tucker
  102. ​Paul Jones
  103. Isabel Hay
  104. Jenna Barr - support worker for the homeless
  105. Rachel Cohen
  106. Bazz patel - civil engineer
  107. Samantha Wall
  108. Gareth Hope
  109. Amy Scholes - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  110. Sarah Thompson - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  111. Josie Salmon - Volunteer at GMHA
  112. Sadie - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  113. Amanda Anderson - Trainee psychologist
  114. Sophie Valavanis - trainee clinical psychologist
  115. Katy Hughes - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  116. ​Sophie Coleman - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  117. Emma Chorlton - Clinical Psychologist
  118. Karmen Au-Yeung - Assistant Psychologist
  119. Holly Turton - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  120. Hannah Gordon- trainee clinical psychologist
  121. Lily Lewis - trainee clinical psychologist
  122. Lara Bennett - Clinical Psychologist
  123. Naomi McFarlane - VR Developer
  124. Dr Jody Quigley - Trainee clinical psychologist
  125. ​Aliya Zamir - Assistant Psychologist
  126. Dr Jon Ettey - Clinical Psychologist
  127. ​Aimee Titchen - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
  128. Sharen McBride
  129. Nicolas Peristianis - They need our support. Anything else just increases the problem.
  130. Maeve - CBT therapist​
  131. Alicia Picken - Clinical Psychologist
  132. Mrs Leone Alexander- Msc psych student, Manchester resident and musician.
  133. Dr Colm Gallagher, Clinical Psychologist
  134. Gina Bannister- Assistant Psychologist
  135. Sharon Coen, Senior Lecturer in Psychology - University of Salford
  136. Dr Will Curvis, Clinical Psychologist
  137. Emily Smart Clinical Psychologist
  138. Dr Kate Boardman Clinal Psychologist
  139. Dr Lorraine King, Clinical Neuropsychologist
  140. Ailsa Parsons, Psychologist & Psychotherapist
  141. Russell Sheldrick. Consultant Clinical Neuropsychoogist
  142. ​Saiqa Naz- CBT Therapist
  143. Helen Caswell Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist
  144. Dr Catherine Houseman
  145. Petra Gwilliam, Clinical Psychologist
  146. Dr Karla Toye, Clinical Psychologist
  147. ​Chloe Ryan
  148. Dr Melanie Smith, Clinical Psychologist ​
  149. Dr Sarah Blackshaw, Clinical Psychologist 
  150. K’ria Sampson ​- Concerned Manchester Resident                                                                                                                                                 Updated 3 April 2019
Photo from Matthew_Hartley