Homeless flee Southend after wave of attacks (From Echo)
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Homeless flee Southend after wave of attacks
2:00pm Thursday 12th January 2012 in Leigh By Emma Thomas
HOMELESS people are fleeing Southend and heading for Leigh to escape hostility and violence, it has been revealed.
Street Pastor Del Thomas told how in the past month there had been an increase in attacks on people sleeping rough.
He told how many have now sought refuge in the neighbouring, quieter town of Leigh.
Mr Thomas, who is part of a volunteer team who patrol Southend in the evenings to offer help and support to vulnerable people, said: “We speak to lots of rough sleepers and we get to know them really well.
“There has been a real increase in the number of these people being attacked recently.
“Some of them we see regularly have moved to Leigh because it is a lot safer there. They have been moving over to Leigh throughout the last month.”
He recalled how one night he saw a group of young thugs assault two homeless people while he was out with the street pastors.
Mr Thomas added: “It happened outside the Post Office in Southend High Street.
“We stepped in, broke it up and called the police. If we see anything happening, we step in.”
Mr Thomas said homeless people often have a range of issues they are trying to deal with and a fear of being attacked makes the process harder.
He said: “I don’t understand how people can kick people when they are down. A lot of people on the streets have issues going on. I don’t understand how you can pick on them for no reason.”
One man, who gave his name as Denzel, is now sleeping rough in Leigh Broadway.
He said: “I used to sleep in Southend High Street, but I had a lot of problems with people shouting and abusing me in the early hours.
“Then a friend of mine was attacked and got hurt quite badly, so we both decided it was time to move. I’ve been here for a few weeks now and it’s much better. There are no problems at night. We’re just left alone, which is what we want.”
A police spokesman said: “We would encourage any homeless person who is a victim of crime to report it to us as soon as possible.”
Comments(47)
leighman
says...
2:23pm Thu 12 Jan 12
And what about any homeowner / member of the general public who is victim of a crime perpetrated by a homeless person may I ask?
Ivanna Goodhump
says...
2:25pm Thu 12 Jan 12
ADucksQuack
says...
2:25pm Thu 12 Jan 12
leighman wrote:You utter ignoramus. Being homeless does not equate to being a criminal or committing crime.
'A police spokesman said: “We would encourage any homeless person who is a victim of crime to report it to us as soon as possible'.
And what about any homeowner / member of the general public who is victim of a crime perpetrated by a homeless person may I ask?
ConcernedEssexBoy
says...
2:35pm Thu 12 Jan 12
If there weren't so many people here, who shouldn't be here (i.e. Visa overstayers/So called foreign students, who aren't students at all, but working illegally or as security guards (many "security guards" are using fake SIA Licences and working for dodgy security companies) etc, etc. and their spouses and children), this this would be less of a problem and there would be a lot more social housing to go round.
The government should set up a special body to mop up all of these aliens and boot them out of the country!
Richy don't shine shoes no more
says...
2:43pm Thu 12 Jan 12
Utter scumbags whoever does this kind of thing.
APR
says...
2:48pm Thu 12 Jan 12
I wonder what the truth is ?
leighman
says...
2:55pm Thu 12 Jan 12
Re: Your response, may I draw your attention to the bloke banged up for life ( life to mean life) today convicted as a serial rapist (oaps being his speciality).OF NO FIXED ABODE. Add to that the drug addicts and drunks that need to finance their habits whilst living on the streets and what do you get then?
ADucksQuack
says...
3:01pm Thu 12 Jan 12
leighman wrote:No fixed abode does not mean homeless, it simply means the person is not registered at an address.
Attn: ADucksQuack
Re: Your response, may I draw your attention to the bloke banged up for life ( life to mean life) today convicted as a serial rapist (oaps being his speciality).OF NO FIXED ABODE. Add to that the drug addicts and drunks that need to finance their habits whilst living on the streets and what do you get then?
It is cretins like you and your ill-informed and plain ignorant Daily Mail inspired 'opinions' that result in incidents like those in the story.
Try thinking for a change.
leighman
says...
3:09pm Thu 12 Jan 12
A good afternoon to you.
fletch12107
says...
3:09pm Thu 12 Jan 12
ConcernedEssexBoy wrote:If you know these people then please contact Crimestoppers and name them.
No one should be homeless these days.
If there weren't so many people here, who shouldn't be here (i.e. Visa overstayers/So called foreign students, who aren't students at all, but working illegally or as security guards (many "security guards" are using fake SIA Licences and working for dodgy security companies) etc, etc. and their spouses and children), this this would be less of a problem and there would be a lot more social housing to go round.
The government should set up a special body to mop up all of these aliens and boot them out of the country!
wickham
says...
3:20pm Thu 12 Jan 12
Nebs
says...
3:22pm Thu 12 Jan 12
belfairs
says...
3:22pm Thu 12 Jan 12
R85
says...
3:39pm Thu 12 Jan 12
ADucksQuack wrote:You can’t deny that anybody who is homeless (or destitute) is probably going to consider the odd crime at times of no food or water etc… Not that homeless people are somehow more likely to be criminals but anybody put into that situation has got to do what they have to in order to survive! If I were homeless and faced the option of no food or take the odd sandwich from Sainsburys I know what I’d choose – even if caught I’d have a warm, comfy place with food for the night!
leighman wrote: Attn: ADucksQuack Re: Your response, may I draw your attention to the bloke banged up for life ( life to mean life) today convicted as a serial rapist (oaps being his speciality).OF NO FIXED ABODE. Add to that the drug addicts and drunks that need to finance their habits whilst living on the streets and what do you get then?No fixed abode does not mean homeless, it simply means the person is not registered at an address. It is cretins like you and your ill-informed and plain ignorant Daily Mail inspired 'opinions' that result in incidents like those in the story. Try thinking for a change.
Nick BURTON
says...
4:08pm Thu 12 Jan 12
the Crime Capital of Essex !
Chymes81
says...
4:16pm Thu 12 Jan 12
alimac69
says...
4:50pm Thu 12 Jan 12
fletch12107 wrote:Getting rid of foreign students and visa overstayers would not ease the housing shortage. Ask these homeless people why they are homeless. Many are addicts who have stolen their housing benefit to fund their additions and have, therefore, been evicted from the property either onto the streets or to prison.
ConcernedEssexBoy wrote: No one should be homeless these days. If there weren't so many people here, who shouldn't be here (i.e. Visa overstayers/So called foreign students, who aren't students at all, but working illegally or as security guards (many "security guards" are using fake SIA Licences and working for dodgy security companies) etc, etc. and their spouses and children), this this would be less of a problem and there would be a lot more social housing to go round. The government should set up a special body to mop up all of these aliens and boot them out of the country!If you know these people then please contact Crimestoppers and name them.
jolllyboy
says...
5:00pm Thu 12 Jan 12
naughtyladyofshadylane
says...
5:20pm Thu 12 Jan 12
ADucksQuack
says...
5:37pm Thu 12 Jan 12
naughtyladyofshadylaThere are not enough homes because the evil old hag Thatcher sold off most of the country's social housing. Now Cameron plans to do the same again with what's left.
ne wrote:
No one should be homeless these days I agree , but depends why they are, if for a genune reason OK, but not as mentioned the addicts, no hopers ! I also agree that there are too many people here that are taking homes that could be for "our people" I dont agree that the councils should be responsible for housing these homeless, i bet they would not look after their homes if they had one! Each case has to be looked at for its own merits, I have no objection to anyone coming o this country if there are enough jobs and homes for "our people", but they should not take priority !
You think homelessness is bad now, it's going to get much, much worse. Wait until hundreds of thousands of families are driven out of inner London by the tories' housing benefit caps.
Southendman
says...
5:43pm Thu 12 Jan 12
jayman
says...
5:55pm Thu 12 Jan 12
Nebs
says...
10:19am Fri 13 Jan 12
jayman wrote:Luckily there were no homeless people under the previous administration, and so this problem did not exist.
the homeless are going in numbers and being persecuted while on the streets.. is there a Tory government in power i wonder... oh yes... yes there is!
ADucksQuack
says...
12:18pm Fri 13 Jan 12
Nebs wrote:The previous government didn't demonise the poor, the unemployed, the vulnerable, the disabled, and the homeless. Neither did the previous government blame all the country's problems on them.
jayman wrote:Luckily there were no homeless people under the previous administration, and so this problem did not exist.
the homeless are going in numbers and being persecuted while on the streets.. is there a Tory government in power i wonder... oh yes... yes there is!
Tories: scum of the worst order.
rayleightown
says...
12:33pm Fri 13 Jan 12
Alekhine
says...
12:46pm Fri 13 Jan 12
ADucksQuack wrote:Why is there no money now to help these people? Oh yes, Labour spent it all on their foolish social engineering policies together with benefits for people who never needed them and mass immigration to ensure they could not lose the next election.
Nebs wrote:The previous government didn't demonise the poor, the unemployed, the vulnerable, the disabled, and the homeless. Neither did the previous government blame all the country's problems on them. Tories: scum of the worst order.jayman wrote: the homeless are going in numbers and being persecuted while on the streets.. is there a Tory government in power i wonder... oh yes... yes there is!Luckily there were no homeless people under the previous administration, and so this problem did not exist.
.
Note to incoming chancellor "there is no money left" haha.
.
ADucksQuack
says...
2:17pm Fri 13 Jan 12
Alekhine wrote:Actually there's no money because the tories friends, the bankers, bankrupted the economy with their greed.
ADucksQuack wrote:Why is there no money now to help these people? Oh yes, Labour spent it all on their foolish social engineering policies together with benefits for people who never needed them and mass immigration to ensure they could not lose the next election.
Nebs wrote:The previous government didn't demonise the poor, the unemployed, the vulnerable, the disabled, and the homeless. Neither did the previous government blame all the country's problems on them. Tories: scum of the worst order.jayman wrote: the homeless are going in numbers and being persecuted while on the streets.. is there a Tory government in power i wonder... oh yes... yes there is!Luckily there were no homeless people under the previous administration, and so this problem did not exist.
.
Note to incoming chancellor "there is no money left" haha.
.
Alekhine
says...
2:55pm Fri 13 Jan 12
ADucksQuack wrote:You have have short memory.
Alekhine wrote:Actually there's no money because the tories friends, the bankers, bankrupted the economy with their greed.ADucksQuack wrote:Why is there no money now to help these people? Oh yes, Labour spent it all on their foolish social engineering policies together with benefits for people who never needed them and mass immigration to ensure they could not lose the next election. . Note to incoming chancellor "there is no money left" haha. .Nebs wrote:The previous government didn't demonise the poor, the unemployed, the vulnerable, the disabled, and the homeless. Neither did the previous government blame all the country's problems on them. Tories: scum of the worst order.jayman wrote: the homeless are going in numbers and being persecuted while on the streets.. is there a Tory government in power i wonder... oh yes... yes there is!Luckily there were no homeless people under the previous administration, and so this problem did not exist.
Does Gordon Browns "light touch" banking regulation ring any bells...
and don't get me into GB's great private sector pensions robbery either.
.
The bankers will support whichever party gives them the best deal. Since 1997 that was Labour. I.m surprised you have'nt blamed Maggie for the 2008 meltdown!
ADucksQuack
says...
2:56pm Fri 13 Jan 12
Alekhine wrote:So you agree the deficit is the bankers fault. So why blame the homeless?
ADucksQuack wrote:You have have short memory.
Alekhine wrote:Actually there's no money because the tories friends, the bankers, bankrupted the economy with their greed.ADucksQuack wrote:Why is there no money now to help these people? Oh yes, Labour spent it all on their foolish social engineering policies together with benefits for people who never needed them and mass immigration to ensure they could not lose the next election. . Note to incoming chancellor "there is no money left" haha. .Nebs wrote:The previous government didn't demonise the poor, the unemployed, the vulnerable, the disabled, and the homeless. Neither did the previous government blame all the country's problems on them. Tories: scum of the worst order.jayman wrote: the homeless are going in numbers and being persecuted while on the streets.. is there a Tory government in power i wonder... oh yes... yes there is!Luckily there were no homeless people under the previous administration, and so this problem did not exist.
Does Gordon Browns "light touch" banking regulation ring any bells...
and don't get me into GB's great private sector pensions robbery either.
.
The bankers will support whichever party gives them the best deal. Since 1997 that was Labour. I.m surprised you have'nt blamed Maggie for the 2008 meltdown!
Alekhine
says...
3:07pm Fri 13 Jan 12
ADucksQuack wrote:I was'nt blaming the homeless.
Alekhine wrote:So you agree the deficit is the bankers fault. So why blame the homeless?ADucksQuack wrote:You have have short memory. Does Gordon Browns "light touch" banking regulation ring any bells... and don't get me into GB's great private sector pensions robbery either. . The bankers will support whichever party gives them the best deal. Since 1997 that was Labour. I.m surprised you have'nt blamed Maggie for the 2008 meltdown!Alekhine wrote:Actually there's no money because the tories friends, the bankers, bankrupted the economy with their greed.ADucksQuack wrote:Why is there no money now to help these people? Oh yes, Labour spent it all on their foolish social engineering policies together with benefits for people who never needed them and mass immigration to ensure they could not lose the next election. . Note to incoming chancellor "there is no money left" haha. .Nebs wrote:The previous government didn't demonise the poor, the unemployed, the vulnerable, the disabled, and the homeless. Neither did the previous government blame all the country's problems on them. Tories: scum of the worst order.jayman wrote: the homeless are going in numbers and being persecuted while on the streets.. is there a Tory government in power i wonder... oh yes... yes there is!Luckily there were no homeless people under the previous administration, and so this problem did not exist.
.
You were blaming the Tories for demonising the poor, the unemployed, the vulnerable, the disabled, yet it is Labour who have spent all the money.
What do now expect the Tories to do?
ADucksQuack
says...
3:43pm Fri 13 Jan 12
Alekhine wrote:The reason we now have lowlifes who think it is ok to beat up a homeless person is a direct result of the tories' non-stop demonisation of society's disadvantaged. Every day the news is full of tory ministers claiming the sick, the disabled, single mothers, the homeless etc. are costing the country too much money. So they get the blame, instead of the greedy b*stards who caused the deficit.
ADucksQuack wrote:I was'nt blaming the homeless.
Alekhine wrote:So you agree the deficit is the bankers fault. So why blame the homeless?ADucksQuack wrote:You have have short memory. Does Gordon Browns "light touch" banking regulation ring any bells... and don't get me into GB's great private sector pensions robbery either. . The bankers will support whichever party gives them the best deal. Since 1997 that was Labour. I.m surprised you have'nt blamed Maggie for the 2008 meltdown!Alekhine wrote:Actually there's no money because the tories friends, the bankers, bankrupted the economy with their greed.ADucksQuack wrote:Why is there no money now to help these people? Oh yes, Labour spent it all on their foolish social engineering policies together with benefits for people who never needed them and mass immigration to ensure they could not lose the next election. . Note to incoming chancellor "there is no money left" haha. .Nebs wrote:The previous government didn't demonise the poor, the unemployed, the vulnerable, the disabled, and the homeless. Neither did the previous government blame all the country's problems on them. Tories: scum of the worst order.jayman wrote: the homeless are going in numbers and being persecuted while on the streets.. is there a Tory government in power i wonder... oh yes... yes there is!Luckily there were no homeless people under the previous administration, and so this problem did not exist.
.
You were blaming the Tories for demonising the poor, the unemployed, the vulnerable, the disabled, yet it is Labour who have spent all the money.
What do now expect the Tories to do?
Thos b*stards are getting away with it scot free. They have not been held to account, none of them have been jailed, they are still awarding themselves enormous bonuses, they are still dodging paying their fair share of tax.
alimac69
says...
4:10pm Fri 13 Jan 12
Chymes81 wrote:Offer them a cup of soup or a sandwich and see how grateful they are.
Good Riddance, i can walk through the town without hearing, "got any change". Answer is Yes, I do have Change, I have worked hard for it, so i'm keeping to spend it keeping a roof over my head, and food on my table. I'm not giving it to a homeless drunk/drug addict to feed their habits.
Alekhine
says...
5:26pm Fri 13 Jan 12
ADucksQuack wrote:While i agree with your point on bankers greed, nobody will go to jail because no laws were broken. Fred the Shred did test the boundaries but i suspect nothing will ever happen because he knows too many damaging facts about the politicians of the day.
Alekhine wrote:The reason we now have lowlifes who think it is ok to beat up a homeless person is a direct result of the tories' non-stop demonisation of society's disadvantaged. Every day the news is full of tory ministers claiming the sick, the disabled, single mothers, the homeless etc. are costing the country too much money. So they get the blame, instead of the greedy b*stards who caused the deficit. Thos b*stards are getting away with it scot free. They have not been held to account, none of them have been jailed, they are still awarding themselves enormous bonuses, they are still dodging paying their fair share of tax.ADucksQuack wrote:I was'nt blaming the homeless. . You were blaming the Tories for demonising the poor, the unemployed, the vulnerable, the disabled, yet it is Labour who have spent all the money. What do now expect the Tories to do?Alekhine wrote:So you agree the deficit is the bankers fault. So why blame the homeless?ADucksQuack wrote:You have have short memory. Does Gordon Browns "light touch" banking regulation ring any bells... and don't get me into GB's great private sector pensions robbery either. . The bankers will support whichever party gives them the best deal. Since 1997 that was Labour. I.m surprised you have'nt blamed Maggie for the 2008 meltdown!Alekhine wrote:Actually there's no money because the tories friends, the bankers, bankrupted the economy with their greed.ADucksQuack wrote:Why is there no money now to help these people? Oh yes, Labour spent it all on their foolish social engineering policies together with benefits for people who never needed them and mass immigration to ensure they could not lose the next election. . Note to incoming chancellor "there is no money left" haha. .Nebs wrote:The previous government didn't demonise the poor, the unemployed, the vulnerable, the disabled, and the homeless. Neither did the previous government blame all the country's problems on them. Tories: scum of the worst order.jayman wrote: the homeless are going in numbers and being persecuted while on the streets.. is there a Tory government in power i wonder... oh yes... yes there is!Luckily there were no homeless people under the previous administration, and so this problem did not exist.
.
The bankers stayed inside what the regulations allowed them to do. Don't like it - take it up with Gordon.
.
So there were no lowlifes beating up the homeless before the Tories came to power then?
SuperFly Ty
says...
7:37pm Fri 13 Jan 12
SuperFly Ty
says...
7:38pm Fri 13 Jan 12
save southend
says...
4:08pm Sun 15 Jan 12
Seasider90
says...
9:48pm Sun 15 Jan 12
ADucksQuack
says...
9:59pm Sun 15 Jan 12
Seasider90 wrote:What social housing? The tories sold most of it in the '80s, and Cameron is planning on selling the rest this parliament.
I once gave money to a beggar who told me he earnt more than I did. Council house, loads of benefits plus up to £150 a day begging in London. Now I know he was a one off but I dont give any change to any beggar now. What really grates me is the foreigners who have come here and gone straight on the streets. In London they gang up and bully the local homeless. We can't house our own and now they're further behind in the queue for social housing. Remember also there are a number of ex servicemen who have ended up on the streets. Great eh? How our country fails to look after our own whilst giving houses to foreign terrorists, rapists and murderers.
whataday
says...
12:56pm Mon 16 Jan 12
bong74
says...
1:44pm Mon 16 Jan 12
SuperFly Ty
says...
1:53pm Mon 16 Jan 12
wallace2009
says...
4:51pm Mon 16 Jan 12
leighman wrote:What a stupid thing to say, Just because someone is down on there luck and end up on the street does not make them a criminal.
'A police spokesman said: “We would encourage any homeless person who is a victim of crime to report it to us as soon as possible'. And what about any homeowner / member of the general public who is victim of a crime perpetrated by a homeless person may I ask?
Roy_Baty
says...
5:05pm Mon 16 Jan 12
bong74 wrote:Start complaining about immigrants when YOU can use the English language.
There would be more homes, for people on the street, if this country stopped most of the imagrants comming into this country!!!
termite1944
says...
4:34pm Tue 24 Jan 12
Ivanna Goodhump wrote:If they read the news, Leigh is no better than Southend or any other local area!
God the Echo makes this sound like the mass migration of Wildebeest in Africa when in reality a couple of old tramps have decided that Leigh is a better place to beg ...
A real questionisi why are so many people homeless when there is so much empty property in the area ... and demolition of an office block is halted because of falcons ... it beggars belief but Southend council has certainly got it priorities a bit mixed up!
termite1944
says...
7:53pm Tue 31 Jan 12
geezer, innit
says...
6:00pm Thu 2 Feb 12
ADucksQuack says...
2:13pm Thu 12 Jan 12