§ 52. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the regulations, or what is the normal procedure observed by Metropolitan police stations, both in respect of persons evicted from their homes who apply for accomodation for the night and in respect of their furniture removed to the street; and approximately how many applications were made last year in the first instance and incidents reported in the second instance.
§ Mr. RentonIt is not the duty of the police to provide accommodation or to deal with property in these circumstances. However, the police give what assistance they can to homeless people to find accommodation. Furniture that has been abandoned in the streets is removed by the police to a place of safety. Applications for assistance in 73W finding accommodation were received in respect of 139 persons who had been evicted; 5 cases were brought to notice in which furniture was moved into the street.