Daily Times

As the world’s media descends on Windsor ahead of the royal wedding today (Saturday), the town’s homeless population have found themselves in the spotlight.

Reports that homeless people’s belongings were being removed by police to be stored securely over the weekend are being met with outrage on social media.

But local police say that no one is being forced to give up their belongings and that the initiative — a collaboration between the police, local council and homeless charities — was designed for the benefit of people who spend nights on the streets, known in the UK as ‘rough sleepers’.

“It’s all voluntary,” said Melanie Adams, a spokeswoman for Thames Valley Police. “Homeless people are not being targeted.”

Reports that homeless people’s belongings were being removed by police to be stored securely over the weekend are being met with outrage on social media

She explained that the plan would spare rough sleepers the annoyance of their belongings being searched multiple times — as anyone in Windsor over the wedding period can expect — or removed as a security risk if left unattended.

“Anyone with large items that are deemed to be a security risk are likely to have those items removed,” she said.

Speaking to CNN last month, before the plan had been announced, Stuart, who sleeps rough in Windsor and who did not want to give his last name, was resigned to any plan the police devised.

“They can do what they want,” he said. “It doesn’t matter about what people want, they will do what’s best to look after the royal family at the end of the day,” he said.

Sunny, a homeless man who also did not want to give his last name, was frustrated that there was no plan to make permanent housing available to the handful of homeless people in the town center.

“Think about the amount of money they’re spending on the wedding,” he said. “That’s taxpayers’ money, isn’t it? You’d think they could help us out with houses or something like that, but they can’t house 10 or 12 people.”

He’s also keen to dispel any idea that asking for spare change from passersby is a profitable business.

“They just think because the wedding’s going on … we’re making loads of money or something like that,” Sunny said. “We’re not making loads of money, we’re just about surviving. If I had a roof over my head I wouldn’t be sitting here… I do this because I’ve got no other choice.”

But Sunny has no bad feelings towards Prince Harry or his bride Meghan Markle. “Congratulations to the guy,” he said. “If I’m here, I’ll enjoy the festivities as much as everyone else.”

Despite being one of the wealthiest towns in the UK, Windsor — some 35 km (22 miles) west of London — has its share of rough sleepers. According to the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, the number of homeless households and people in temporary accommodation is growing.

Published in Daily Times, May 19^th 2018.