Westminster Council has now abandoned plans to criminalise soup runs, having originally thought that the ban would prevent rough sleeping around Westminster Cathedral.

This U-turn results from campaigns by Liberty, Housing Justice, Church Action on Poverty. Liberty sent letters to councillors, assisted by leading UK barristers’ chambers 11KBW, who drafted a legal opinion criticising the proposal as “over broad” and “draconian“.

Sabina Frediani of Liberty commented: “Credit to Westminster Council for responding to public concern in such a positive way and dropping such a harsh and ill-judged proposal. The byelaw would have criminalized acts of charity at a time of recession and at best, merely shunted homeless people on to a different part of the capital”.

Click here to view Liberty’s press release.

Click here to view the Westminster Council’s original draft byelaws.