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Government to Amend Bill Exempting Homeless from Sanctions for Body Odour

In response to criticism, officials are revising the Criminal Justice Bill to clarify that homelessness cannot be penalized for smell, amid a potential Tory rebellion.

Overview

  • The Home Office is considering amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill following backlash over its provisions that could penalize homeless people for body odour.
  • Education Secretary Gillian Keegan and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have both stated that people should not be arrested for smelling, sparking a government response.
  • Critics, including around 40 Tory MPs ready to rebel, argue the bill could push homeless individuals further from help and bring back a regime worse than the Vagrancy Act it aims to replace.
  • The draft legislation has been ridiculed for potentially arresting homeless people for producing an 'excessive smell,' with fines up to £2,500.
  • The bill's controversial 'smell' provision has drawn widespread ridicule, with calls for its removal to protect the homeless from unnecessary criminalization.