Metal spikes have been installed outside a block of London flats as a means of deterring homeless people from sleeping there.
Andrew Horton, from Surrey, uploaded a picture of the spikes to Twitter and this has caused a huge reaction.
The 33-year-old took the picture of the spikes outside flats on Southwark Bridge Road as he was walking to work earlier this week.
Mr Horton said: “I can’t say for certain but it certainly looked like they were placed there to deter homeless people. It’s dreadful”.
Residents of the flats, which sell for upwards of £800,000 (€986,000), said the metal spikes were put in place two weeks ago after a number of homeless people were seen sleeping there.
According to The Telegraph, one woman resident, who asked not to be named, said: “There was a homeless man asleep there about six weeks ago.
“Then about two weeks ago all of a sudden studs were put up outside. I presume it is to deter homeless people from sleeping there”.
Since Andrew shared the photo to Twitter, it has been retweeted thousands of times and shared on Facebook too.
Anti homeless floor studs. So much for community spirit 🙁 pic.twitter.com/Yz8VF7Ryid
— Ethical Pioneer (@ethicalpioneer) June 6, 2014
Katherine Sacks-Jones, head of policy and campaigns at British homeless charity Crisis, said yesterday: “We will never tackle rough sleeping with studs in the pavement. Instead we must deal with the causes”.
Images via Twitter
