News:
There have been reports in the media in recent months that rough sleepers are being picked up from soup runs and day centres and turned into 'modern day slaves' by ruthless employers. The Soup Run Forum has produced advice to soup runs and rough sleepers regarding this situaiton. The important points if you see people offering work are:
- Do NOT challenge them: they could be dangerous.
- WARN everyone else at the soup run not to go with anyone offering work.
- RECORD their vehicles’ number plates and make a note of their appearance and anything that is said.
- REPORT them to the police. If you are concerned for somebody’s safety call 999. If there is no immediate danger call 101.
To help warn your service users please download a leaflet here and in Polish here.
Westminster Council issued a press release at the beginning of November 2011 confirming that they would not take forward their proposed by-law to ban soup runs and rough sleeping in Victoria. Housing Justice welcomed this news with a press release. Part of the credit must go to the Soup Run Forum members who agreed to move their soup runs out of the Westminster Cathedral area to other locations.
