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studs/spikes to deter homeless people?

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Ah yes, all those ENDLESS SHELTERS available for homeless people.

Why don't they just walk into a shelter and get food and a roof over their head.

oh, that's because they're all full

dur
OR the money could be invested into homeless shelters and working on getting people off the streets to actually help people.

The homeless are people and we should make more of an effort to see it like that rather than this 'ugh he's probably just a druggy so he deserves it' attitude.
Reply 22
Avatar for Hectic
Hectic
What's with the hate for The Guardian regarding this article?
Disgraceful. How about addressing the root of the problem rather than covering up the symptoms so you can pretend it doesn't exist?
I have installed such studs before at a flat our company owns and manages. It was actually done on advice of the council and they been quietly telling owners of such buildings that are facing such problems to fix those studs.

Reasons :-

1) Save on the calling of police, tenants were calling police all the time to chase those tramps away, some did become aggressive when tenants tell them to go.

2) Garbage control. Many tramps do leave garbage all over the place. Some also slept at places where we are supposed bring place the trash at and some resorted to placing it elsewhere.

3) Health reasons, many do urinate and defecate near where they sleep.

4) Then the other reason was many were sleeping on the pavement, the pavement and walkways while it was owned by the building owners it is actually public right of way spaces and building security seldom have the powers to tell anyone not to sleep there. The spikes being there means councils don't need to send anyone to chase them away and it doesn't affect productivity of the street cleaners whose machines can't get through if these tramps are about.

A lot of them were put up last December as many places predicted that with the influx of Bulgarians and Romanians there would be lots of homeless migrants about thus many places were told to remove outdoor garden benches as it would be prime places for those trying to sleep rough.
Original post by Drewski
First person to trip and fall on them will earn a small fortune in damages.


Unlikely you can trip on them unless it was a deliberate attempt to do so.

Original post by donutellme
Or the money spent coming up with this ridiculous idea could've been used to build a shelter?


Cost around £80 inclusive of labour to do a square meter and widely used in many countries.

Original post by fajitamunch
If the tramps stole the spikes, they could scrap them for money. Repeat. Tramps get food :smile: What nice thoughtful people the residents are... letting the tramps earn their money and teaching them life skills.


Once installed unless you destroy the paving stone or time it is almost impossible to steal them. Also most areas that has them are also monitored by CCTV :smile:
I agree OP, I can understand not wanting to come down to someone sleeping on your doorstep. On the other hand these are vulnerable people just looking for a place to stay, and it is pretty nasty to treat them this way.
I'd have no problem with a homeless person sleeping outside my house.... statistically, they're less of a threat than other people.

I actually know a few homeless people. They're usually incredibly sensitive, deep thinking and kind people who struggle to cope within a capitalist, uncaring society.

When everyone tells you you're nothing, then treats you like a pest, do you really think it's so easy to pull yourself off from that? Shelters are overpopulated and under funded.. they're often not safe spaces for people who struggle socially.

Society needs to adjust to how they should see and treat them, not them adjusting to how society treats them.
Original post by Alfissti

Cost around £80 inclusive of labour to do a square meter and widely used in many countries.


Cost's around £100 to build a box/plastic roof somewhere else, giving them a place to sleep and keeping them away from the building? Everyone wins.
Reply 29
Avatar for Cylos
Cylos
4
Basically a policy of 'out of sight, out of mind'

There are either not enough shelters or the existing shelters lack awareness, these must be addressed.
Original post by jelly1000
Personally as a woman it would make me feel more safe if I lived there. If I went out on my own (especially at night) I would not want to come back and find a strange man under the doorway- I would worry what his intentions were.


Just to point out homeless people are far more likely to be a victim of violence than dish it out.
Original post by tehforum
Ah yes, all those ENDLESS SHELTERS available for homeless people.

Why don't they just walk into a shelter and get food and a roof over their head.

oh, that's because they're all full

dur


That and full of potentially dangerous people, or have stipulations that you can't be on drugs or drink.
Reply 32
Avatar for Marcum
Marcum
11
Oh, what a compassionate society we live in! I'm lying through my back teeth; it's full of psychopaths with no regard or concern for their fellow man.
Original post by Ripper-Roo
How are they a burden?

pigeons are just animals, they **** a lot, but are hardly a menace.


Pigeons are flying rats. Horrible things.
Original post by Olie
Well there can't be enough then, otherwise there wouldn't be the 'problem' of the homeless sleeping in the doorways of buildings surely? Pretty disgusting idea I must say, I hope they're going to be building more shelters to make up for it!


Why dont you spend money on shelters instead of dictating what people can and cant spend their money on?

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Original post by donutellme
Of course they can! But a better, more sensible way would be to build a shelter (£100?) somewhere else, so both parties benefit. And to be honest, the spikes aren't even that bad. Just put something soft on top and easy.


Not if it costs more money.

Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by Ripper-Roo
How are they a burden?

pigeons are just animals, they **** a lot, but are hardly a menace.


They dont contribute anything to society.

Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by the mezzil
They dont contribute anything to society.

Posted from TSR Mobile


Socialist
It does seem rather harsh - however there are lots of good reasons why a land owner would want to deter the homeless from 'setting up camp'. That said, I do not necessarily see the problem with the installation of devices which are designed to put deter people from sleeping in certain areas.

However, I would say that the issue of rough sleeping is not solved just by telling people to go to shelters. Spaces in shelters are in short supply and there are other issues with them. So while I have no issue with the use of things like these studs, I do think more ought to be done to help the homeless - and it is a shame to see some rather insensitive posts on this thread.
Original post by donutellme
Cost's around £100 to build a box/plastic roof somewhere else, giving them a place to sleep and keeping them away from the building? Everyone wins.


On what or whose land? Let me know if I can build it at the garden of your house.

The onus on me as a building owner and landlord is to ensure a safe premise for its occupants and it is my duty to my investors and community to preserve the value of the building and surrounding area.

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