Transport for London (TfL) has spent more than £113,000 in three months on a security firm hired to prevent rough sleepers returning to Park Lane.
The transport authority hired the company, understood to be MEC Security, this summer after an encampment of rough sleepers was removed from the site. In response to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request submitted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), TfL has said that between July and September it spent £113,365 on security at Park Lane.
Conservative West End councillor Tim Barnes said it is “sad” that such a large sum of money has been spent, though he added it is “necessary because of the disastrous impact that we saw with the build-up of tents in the past”.
A TfL spokesperson said people rough sleeping at the site had been made aware they will be removed if they return. They added: “We will continue to work with Westminster City Council whose outreach teams can connect people to the support available to them and prevent them from returning.”
While located in one of the most expensive districts in Westminster, and London at-large, the patch of land running down the middle of Park Lane is managed by TfL rather than the local council.
The issue of rough people sleeping in the area is long-standing and goes back at least a decade. In May the authority secured a court order to remove a large encampment opposite the Hilton down by Hyde Park Corner.
The set-up mirrored a similar group which had established tents last summer closer to Marble Arch, which was similarly taken down following a court order.
Several local businesses told the LDRS earlier this year that they were frustrated by people from the encampment approaching patrons. One person, who runs a nearby restaurant, said: “The problem is we try to push them away and they won’t budge out. All I want to do is get rid of them because of the customers. And it’s not good for the area.”
In July the LDRS revealed TfL had spent almost £37,000 removing rough sleepers from Park Lane in the last couple of years, with further costs expected from the court the following month.
A spokesperson told the LDRS security staff had been hired to patrol the area “to discourage people from returning”. London Centric later revealed the firm hired to be private provider MEC Security.
In September the LDRS reported how the presence of two security vans, one parked up by Hyde Park Corner the other up closer to Marble Arch, appeared to have proven successful in preventing any encampments developing. One of the security personnel said he was regularly removing people trying to sleep rough along Park Lane.
TfL would not disclose how long the security firm is expected to patrol the area, though the LDRS understands any ongoing plans will take into account the need to stop people from returning.
Regarding the amount spent by TfL in three months, Cllr Barnes said: “It’s sad that this much money needs to be spent and it will probably add up to half a million over the year. But it is necessary because of the disastrous impact that we saw with the build-up of tents in the past. It blighted local residents, businesses and tourism. The real failure is that this is needed at all.
“If the Mayor and Westminster City Council got their act together, then there wouldn’t be so many people trying to pitch tents here in the first place. We need a better solution for their sakes as well as those in the surrounding area and this shows the money is there to do the job properly and not just deal with the consequences of their inaction.”
A TfL spokesperson said: “No one should be faced with sleeping rough on London’s streets and helping rough sleepers to get the support they need is a safeguarding priority for TfL. People sleeping rough are highly vulnerable and require support from specialist outreach and other services. We work closely with the Greater London Authority and outreach services to understand how best to help support those rough sleeping in London and on the transport network.
“Park Lane is a busy part of the road network that is not a safe place for people to sleep rough and our focus is on the safety and welfare of everyone involved.
“People who have been sleeping rough at this site have been made aware that returning to the site is not an option and that they will be removed. We will continue to work with Westminster City Council whose outreach teams can connect people to the support available to them and prevent them from returning.”
The LDRS previously reported how some of those seen sleeping rough outside John Lewis and M&S on Oxford Street over the summer were believed to include some of the group removed from Park Lane.
A Westminster City Council spokesperson said: “In Westminster we have more people experiencing rough sleeping than any other part of the country – as the heart of the capital, new people appear on our streets every day.
“The £2million in additional support from the Government is welcome and clearly underlines the scale of rough sleeping in the City. It is on top of the £8m we already spend every year on services like hostel places and specialist help.
“Our teams are out on the streets seven days a week to offer help to those who will take it. People end up on the streets for complex reasons, but staying there isn’t an option. We need to help people away from this dangerous environment and towards help with addiction, mental health problems and the prospect of a better life.”
