Brighton and Hove City Council was accused of using public space protection orders (PSPOs) to target travellers.
David Thomas, representing Brighton Housing Coalition, raised his concerns at the council’s Neighbourhoods, Inclusion, Communities and Equalities Committee.
The claim was denied when the committee met at Hove Town Hall this afternoon (Monday 2 July).
Mr Thomas, chief executive of Friends, Families and Travellers, wrote to the council saying PSPOs should not be used to target homeless people.
He went on to say that the Brighton and Hove Park and Open Spaces PSPO breached the new guidance and the Equalities Act in targeting travellers – a specific racial group.
His letter ended: “The recent council report on its operation makes clear that the PSPO is used only to target homeless people and travellers.
“What changes is the council proposing to make to its operation?”
In response, the committee’s chair Labour councillor Emma Daniel, said that PSPOs in the city were limited to 12 pieces of land.
She said: “They were brought in because some communities could not use public spaces for significant periods of time and due to anti-social behaviour.”
The policy was brought in after the authority worked with the Equalities and Human Rights Commission to help all sides.
She said that the policy did not come into effect until the council had opened its travellers transit site in Horsdean.
Mr Thomas said: “Since I came to live here I have been proud of the tolerance and inclusivity of Brighton and Hove.
“PSPOs have certainly been used for targeting travellers.
“As far as I have found out this is the only authority in the county to come up with one that is racially discriminatory.”
Councillor Daniel said that she disagreed with everything Mr Thomas had said and added that no PSPO notices have been issued since March.
Last month, the council was criticised by some for not using these powers to move on travellers who were camped on Hove Lawns for four days – one of the areas covered by PSPOs.
Twice now travellers have filled Hive’s western lawn with vans, cars and given anti social problems to two pubs and a seafront cafe shop. They are not the homeless; they are ruthlessly invasive and unpleasantly lawless who refuse to use the areas provided for them (with facilities). They want the beach & BHCC is refusing to use the PSPO when they get word Thursday/Friday of invasion & instead give four day CONSENTS!
Indeed BHCC FACILITATES them by refusing to replace the bollards on the esplanade that usef to block vehicle access onto the lawn. Why is that?
How do travellers become a racial group? From what I’ve seen, they seem to be just white and, as such, should be subject to the same laws as everyone else.
The Equalities and Human Rights commission did not at any stage work with the council. In fact they wrote to the council in opposition of the PSPO during the consultation stage…as did Liberty..And friends families and Travellers