The Police have released this statement in relation to a number of homeless individuals in the High Street:
On regular occasions recently, the Police and Gosport Borough Council have received reports that a small group of homeless people are using shop doorways as a place to sleep. This is causing concerns for a number of reasons; the welfare of these individuals is of course a priority for all the agencies involved. However, their presence is also having an impact on businesses, residents and visitors to the Town Centre. Complaints have involved public drunkenness, intimidation and on occasions begging.
In Gosport, homeless people can access many support services that can assist them in finding accommodation and tackling any barriers that currently prevent them from living a more positive lifestyle. These individuals are encouraged to take up these opportunities as much as possible but in cases where they do not, we have a duty to take action to protect the public from those individuals choosing not to link into these services, where they are known to be causing nuisance or committing crime.
If you are affected by the behaviour of people using these spaces to shelter, please do report this so we can offer help or take action where necessary. We advise that you report via the Single non-emergency number, 101. If you do not wish to contact the police, you can also report your experiences in strict confidence to Gosport Borough Council on 02392545200. In both cases, please include details of the dates that you have been affected, how long it happened for, what disturbance or concerns you are experiencing and give descriptions of the individuals involved.