Revolving Doors responds to the Government’s new Renters Reform Bill
In response to the Government’s proposed Renters Reform Bill announced today (17th May), Pavan Dhaliwal, Chief Executive of Revolving Doors commented:
“In the midst of an ongoing cost of living crisis with countless individuals teetering on the edge of homelessness, the Government’s efforts to end no-fault evictions and improve housing standards with the Renters Reform Bill are welcome.”
“However, the expansion of the definition of antisocial behavior to include ‘any behavior capable of causing nuisance or annoyance’ raises concerns, especially in light of Government plans to make it easier, and quicker, to evict tenants. Time and again, evidence shows homelessness, poverty, and mental health drive repeat contact with the criminal justice system for low-level crime, such as those related to ‘anti-social behaviour’. Our concern is that these measures will push people further into deprivation, crisis and ultimately, the criminal justice system, costing the tax-payer enormous amounts of money and doing nothing to reduce crime. We urge the government to carefully consider the full implications of these plans and what mitigations should be put in place to ensure that these measures don’t lead to devastating and expensive consequences.”
ENDS
Notes to the editor
- Revolving Doors is a national charity working to break the cycle of crisis and crime. We advocate for a system that addresses the drivers of contact with the criminal justice system, including trauma, poverty and discrimination. We bring independent research, policy expertise and lived experience together to champion long-term solutions for justice reform.
- Research has shown that ASB tends to be concentrated in deprived urban areas in the UK. See Joseph Rowntree Foundation (2005), ‘Anti-social behaviour strategies: Finding a balance’.
- Several analyses of anti-social behavior caselaw show that people with mental ill health or problems with drugs and alcohol are disproportionately subject to Anti-Social Behavior Orders for behaviors directly linked to these issues. See ‘The rich get treatment − the poor go to prison: imprisonment for contempt of court’ by Rona Epstein for Revolving Doors, or ‘Sent to jail for feeding the pigeons: the broken system of antisocial behaviour laws’ by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please email press@revolving-doors.org.uk. For out of hours queries or to speak to someone on the phone, please contact Cordelia Tucker O’Sullivan cordelia.tuckerosullivan@revolving-doors.org.uk.
