Campaigners demand removal of McDonalds anti-homeless spikes

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london   june 22  mcdonalds...
london june 22 mcdonalds...


McDonalds has caused outrage after refusing to remove 'anti-homeless' spikes from outside a Leeds city centre outlet.

Despite the fact that nearly 80,000 people have signed a petition calling on the company to get rid of the metal studs, it's failed to do so. The company claims the spikes aren't aimed at preventing homeless people sleeping there but are instead intended to combat unspecified 'anti-social behaviour'.

But, say campaigners, metal studs work primarily to deter people from sleeping in a particular area, and should be banned.

"Anti-homeless spikes just show complete disregard and lack of respect for homeless people who struggle every day," says the petition's creator, Isobella DeMartino.

"If enough people sign, McDonald's and the council will see that the spikes are damaging McDonald's reputation much more than homeless people sleeping in their doorway would do."

Earlier this year, Selfridges was slammed after installing anti-homeless spikes outside its Manchester store, claiming it wanted to reduce 'litter and smoking'. Campaigners have also successfully had them removed from outside a block of flats in London, a branch of Halifax in Swansea and the Regent Street branch of Tesco.

But such spikes are just one of many emerging techniques of so-called 'defensive architecture', which also include water sprinklers and benches designed so that people can't lie on them. McDonalds already uses 'uncool' music outside its stores to discourage people from lingering; meanwhile, Mansfield Council in Nottingham has even installed neon pink lights at two underpasses, as they highlight spotty skin.

And, in the last couple of weeks, Oxford City Council has been accused of trying to criminalise homelessness by banning rough sleeping in the city. The council claims that it only plans to act against people who have been offered shelter and refused it.

Meanwhile, however, the number of homeless people continues to rise, with homelessness charity Crisis and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation estimating that as many as 2,000 people are forced to sleep rough every night.

"This is happening in a context where rough sleeping has gone up massively. Over the last three years rough sleeping has risen by 36% nationally," says Katharine Sacks-Jones, head of policy and campaigns at Crisis.

"The reason for that increase is the continuing economic downturn, the housing shortage, and cuts to benefits, particularly housing benefit."

Read more on AOL Money:

US pensioner arrested for feeding the homeless

Food bank use is soaring: why do people use food banks?

Tesco scraps 'anti-homeless' spikes

Controversial 'Anti-Homeless' Metal Spikes in London
Controversial 'Anti-Homeless' Metal Spikes in London




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