The Isle of Wight Council has issued a statement saying that they are working with partners, including the Police, in order to address residents’ concerns following anti-social behaviour caused by emergency housing of individuals in Sandown.
As part of the government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19), all councils with housing responsibilities, including the Isle of Wight Council, were tasked to move all homeless people into single person accommodation (i.e. no hostel or dormitory type accommodation) within 48 hours.
In addition, all councils with housing responsibilities were directed to provide emergency accommodation to all people presenting as homeless, regardless of the reasons for that homelessness.
As a result of the government’s instructions, the local authority has needed to accommodate more than 60 homeless individuals across 9 accommodation sites – 6 hotels and bed and breakfast establishments and 3 caravan parks.
Over in Sandown, the grouping of such individuals has led to anti-social behaviour in the town including suspected drug use, drinking and flouting of the social distancing rules. Police officers were given the authority to disperse individuals by a local Inspector over the weekend. In addition, a 35-year-old man sustained a fractured skull last Thursday.
Island Echo reported on Monday night how councillors have been forced to arrange beach cleans to clear drug paraphernalia and empty beer cans.
An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson said:
“The council is very aware there have been some public disruption and community safety issues relating to a small number of the individuals who have been housed in this emergency accommodation. We know that some residents are concerned as a consequence.
Article continues below this advertisement “We are actively working with our partners, including the police, in the affected communities in order to address these incidences and to find solutions during what is an incredibly challenging situation and period of time for us all.
“As part of this, the council is continuing its search for additional accommodation for the rising numbers of people presenting as homeless so that we might reduce, if not remove, some of the issues that have been the cause of concern in the last few days”.
Site old caravans on Lyn Bottom tip would be a start. That OR place them in the top councillors and top Police officers large gardens so we could be ‘sure’ action, not ‘lip service’ is then taken.
Then search these low life, remove phones, drugs, needles, and end any methadone or other drug safer stimulants, along with alcohol. Then give vouchers only to be used basic food and necessities, no cash.
Let the police use as much force as they feel prudent when arresting or searching or dealing with these or any aggressors in these times.
Explain that any breaking of rules will mean a cell with the most basic treatment for months, and any lip, another beating.
Yet we all know, that what WILL happen is more money to segregate the worst, with paid care workers, who have to tread carefully when conversing with this rubbish so as to keep it from attacking ‘helping their anger issues and wasting even more of our cash.
Shame the old gasometers have been dismantled on the Isle, they would have made ideal basic accommodation for such vile beings.
Those who ‘make’ the rules are always the ones who never live amongst the dross, be it imported or our growing homegrown to ‘really care’. I wouldn’t either if I were them, so that is why I know NOTHING will happen other than lip service.
the solution is simple… take them out of the accommodation – provide them with a single person tent – at least two metres from another annoying scumbag, in a field in the middle of nowhere. Position private security around them, so they cannot go anywhere, with authorisation to physically restrain them if necessary. Keep them there until lockdown over, then take the tent, burn it and tell them to FO.
fantastic
With the dross still in it.
You did make me laugh but I agree with you one hundred
Put them all in camp hill we are all here trying to stay strong and get threw this the best way we can and we have all them being total well wont say wat i want to but I’m sure u can imagine what I would like to say.. they should appreciate the help they are getting and all for free as we are here trying to pay our rent and keep a roof over our heads and they are getting everything for free with doll money when we have nothing they r all scum lock them up in camp hill sandown dont need this..
Well said I agree put them in camp hill prison these scum need to be controlled
Well said Sarah ,all for free, us self employed at the end of this month will be struggling big time to pay rent etc and are in waiting for HELP if it ever comes be to little much to late
No help coming for me Mojo, the recently self employed have got the middle finger from the chancellor, no 80% promise. It will take me a year, maybe longer to get out of the debt thats building up.
I have properly been thrown under the bus and no in power seems to give a s**t!
Won’t be long and I may be homeless too and probably be housed with these scumbags.
Just tow them out to an empty fort in the solent, blow it up, job done
Thousands upon thousands of visitors come to the Isle of Wight every year and camp in fields including for giant festivals and in dozens of touring parks in remote locations (away from award winning beaches and off-licenses). The army can come over here and set up shop themselves no bother. And yet the council seem to be struggling with 60+ individuals. I shudder to think what would happen if the council was required to house homeless people en masse in normal times when the hotels and B&Bs are busy. Councils should have adequate contingencies all year round for the deserving homeless. IoW Council doesn’t sound contrite about this.
Deserving homeless, they’ve already smashed someone’s skull in ,left needles on the beach and blatantly disregarded social distancing, attack police officers and no doubt that they have smashed up the hotels and b and b they are getting to stay in for free, complete drain on resources, they shouldn’t be allowed in society
Can’t tar everyone with the same brush.
My point is that we can now see that there is no need for these people to be homeless and had this intervention been instructed at the point of homeless maybe some of these people would have not turned to drugs. Do you ever met anyone at school who you said: “When I grow up I want to be homeless?” These people who are referred to as “low life” are someone’s sibling, someone’s parent, child, grandparent and so on. It’s just an awful shame and truly sad the predicament these people have found themselves in however that came to be. I hope that each and every one of them can now take a long hard look in the mirror and say. “You know what I can do something about my situation”
Veggy
You rent them a room then in your home.
Come back on in a month, and tell us how it worked out.
Thought not, happy so long as ‘someone else’ has the problem, best to button it then don’t you think, which is likely, ‘you don’t think’.
Camp Hill is ideal
I think it is good they are being housed in Sandown. Most crime takes place in this run down area so let’s keep
it in one area, this way the rest of the Island is safe.
This is just a holiday to them nice beach nearby sun out all day accommodation all payed for just need money to buy drink
A lot of us have had bad things happen to them. My life hasn’t always been a bed of roses believe me!’ But I didn’t turn to drugs and feel the need to make other peoples life a misery!
Scum bags no respect for decent people and it’s all very well these so called do gooders housing them just to make them selves look good but how would they like it on there door steps , Clair Mosdell
See the SJW’s are in seventh heaven, happily moralising from the comfort of their armchairs as usual.
We all get choices in life why should scum bags spoil life for working people, decent people .
Let all bow down to low lifes .
No self respect blaming the world because they end up drinking and drug taking , rather than getting off the ass and doing the rite thing because let’s face it it’s all about doing the rite thing .