I lived, and worked, in central London during the late 1960's, and in those days scenes such as below simply didn't exist; nor did they exist over the subsequent few decades.
In fact, had someone been found sleeping rough in an Oxford Street doorway, he or she would have been moved-on at once; we used to have 'bobbies on the beat' in those days.
Since the immigrant 'shanty town' in Hyde Park, opposite Park Lane, has finally been demolished (after several years), those same immigrants have simply moved up the road, and are sleeping-rough outside the big John Lewis store. They all seem to have nice white duvets and mattresses, but who is providing them is unclear. I'm sure the up-market store's management team can't be happy with the situation.
Why have they not been either moved-on, or even deported? What do these people think they're doing? This is a major tourist area, in one of the world's greatest cities.
In Park Lane, the residents of the very expensive apartments overlooking the park complained that the squatters were peeing and pooing all over the place without shame. Eventually they were evicted, and all their rubbish taken away. Now the 40 or so (mostly, I believe, Romanians) have moved into the prestigious Oxford Street, where they spend their daytimes begging (or possibly picking a pocket or two).
These people have to be dealt with AT ONCE, not after lengthy 'enquiries' and hand-wringing. What is happening to central London is unacceptable.
p.s. If planning a trip to Oxford Street, remember NOT to take your mobile phone, your expensive watch, or anything in your pockets. If you intend buying anything keep your credit card in your shoe. A small pocket-sized Pepper Spray should be permanently held in your best squirting hand. This is no joke!
My granddaughters visited London last year, saw all the sites and were lucky to avoid any incident. But living in central Athens they are city savvy.
ReplyDeleteThats a terrible scene. Where do they go to the loo there. I've heard London has changed drastically for the worse with the present Mayor.
I agree they should be dealt with... But how. Illegal arrivals here are now sent back which seems to be working. We have a lot of 'refugees' from the Balkans but they all work, or those on the island do, and support themselves
What to do with them is the great problem. I suppose they use the John Lewis store loos. People are leaving London in their droves, places like The Cotswolds are becoming very popular, and becoming spoilt in turn with all their 4 by 4's, and city ways. London is a mess and most of England is too. I don't know what can be done about it now. It's all too late.
DeleteThe floodgates are open, and London is the "go to" city for most migrants finally reaching Europe. It's difficult to know how to stem the tide. They will just keep coming while the politicians um and arr and scratch their heads! The lure of a cushy hotel room, food, money and a mobile phone must be a big incentive.
ReplyDeleteParis has also become a Shanty Town, you would hardly believe the amount of 'Tent Cities' there are. Even grassy roundabouts have become covered in makeshift tents. It's a disgrace.
DeleteMoved on to where?
ReplyDeleteYou should credit the Daily Mail for the photo and reporting.
Unlike me, you are obviously an avid reader of the Daily Mail; I had no idea where it came from. The story appeared in my msn news feed. I never look where the stories come from. They must have done a good job!
DeleteI am not an “avid reader” but do skim it most days such that I can usually recognize the style. To be fair this one wasn’t typical as it didn’t mention house prices or mention temperature in Fahrenheit.
DeleteWhat's to be done?
ReplyDeleteActually, it's quite simple.
If none of these individuals can provide evidence of legal residence status then deport them. And if the hand wringers complain, ignore them.
But that would require something totally alien to our so-called elites, namely sense and backbone.
You're right of course, but the task would now be massive. Where would one start (other than on Oxford St). And if they have no papers, where would we send them? It's been left far too late, and I don't really see any solution.
DeleteThere are homeless people everywhere Cro. Even in the English countryside I have seen people living permanently in vans.
ReplyDeleteWe have one or two in Brighton, but they're just people who've fallen on hard times for some reason or another. What's going on in London, and elsewhere, is a totally different question.
DeleteWhere should they go? They're still human beings and deserve safe shelter. I try not be so quick to judge...there but for the grace and all that...
ReplyDeleteJennifer, these are people who come to a new country for various unsavoury reasons, or just to get money. I agree with you about a small percentage of 'homeless people', but these people come in gangs to beg or steal, then send money back home to build houses etc.
DeleteShhh Crozier! Advertising this ongoing issue may have a negative effect on visitor numbers in London. After all, a lot of the foreigners who read your blog are extremely affluent and chauffeur-driven.
ReplyDeleteThese days they steal both the car and the chauffeur
DeletePeople living on the streets are a public health issue.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, immigrants must work and have an income to be self-supporting. Anyone not meeting the requirements should be deported back to their home country.
In the US, people are being deported in large numbers. Many of the people are employed, self-supporting and paying taxes. They are working at: farming, care giving, construction, and landscaping...). These jobs are hard to fill and now there is a labor shortage.
That said, nobody should be living on the streets.
A lot of the Romanians in the UK are brought in by criminal gangs. The women beg on the streets and the men steal. They do send some back, but they keep bringing more in. It's like fighting a losing battle.
DeleteI live in a small ex-mining village in the North of the UK. At one time it was a lovely bustling village with a handful of independent shops. It's a shit hole now. Three Turkish barbers (cash only), Chinese nail bar (ditto), several takeaways and not much else - oh apart from at least 2 HMOs, the occupants of which speak no English and queue in the Coop in their Pyjamas.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a shame. This is happening all over. The effect and influence they have over a community can be devastating. We all know what's going on, but we can do nothing!
DeleteOff topic but maybe of interest?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/08/20/my-tolerant-city-of-brighton-has-become-a-hotbed-of-racism/
And on topic
Deletehttps://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/aug/20/at-19-i-had-to-flee-my-country-afraid-for-my-life-without-even-saying-goodbye-to-my-familyI
I do remember many years ago a hard-left group demonstrating outside M & S about Jews. They had drawn huge Stars of David over the windows, and were handing-out nasty leaflets. No police attended!
Deletep.s. I couldn't get the Guardian article.
DeleteI used to spend a lot of time in the Dorset hills for 25 years or so - Sadly for a while now many people were distressed about certain humans toileting inappropriately - flis x
ReplyDeleteSadly the country's beauty sites are some of the dirtiest and most littered.
DeleteWe don´t have "Shanty towns" like that in Germany. As soon as a person says the magic word "Asylum" at the border, they are let in, get a place to sleep, food, money and the right to stay until their application for a residence permit is processed. Of course they also get a lawyer. And they can only be deported to "safe" countries, where all human rights are guaranteed.
ReplyDeleteOur new government tries to be a bit more restrictive and to actually control the borders, but there is a lot of protest from the opposition and all the do-gooders.
Hilde in Germany