Hostels targeted for street labour (From The Argus)
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Hostels targeted for street labour
5:50pm Thursday 28th February 2013 in News By Anna Roberts, Crime reporter
Homeless hostels have been targeted by people looking to get the street community to work for them.
Sussex Police’s police street team tweeted to “end human exploitation” after reports were made that individuals had visited St Patrick’s Hostel in Hove.
The team said: “Looking into reports of individuals trying to get street community to work for them laying paving, promises of caravan to sleep in, food [and] pay.
“Be careful, not all are given what they get promised. Agencies please report this type of approach.”
It comes just a few years after Sussex Police confirmed reports to The Argus that traveller families were targeting homeless people in the county.
A Sussex Police spokeswoman said there had been two visits to St Patrick’s hostel and visits to other services in Brighton and Hove where people have been offered work in paving.
She said to their knowledge no one had taken up the offer.
Sergeant Richard Siggs said: “There are risks associated with such offers of work.
“We have given out posters in English, Polish and other languages to ensure people are aware and cautious of accepting such work.
‘A living nightmare’ “No one should accept a verbal offer of accommodation, pay and food as a guarantee.
“Should they choose to go, then contact details, registration numbers etc should be taken.
“We are working with partner agencies to make sure the vulnerable in our society are not exploited.”
Nikki Homewood, Brighton Housing Trust’s director of homelessness services, said: “While BHT is keen to encourage people with a history of homelessness to find work, we agree with the police that these offers of accommodation and housing are not always what they appear to be.
“Informal labouring jobs can exploit and rip off people who are desperate.
“Come the end of the week there is no pay, the accommodation might be unsafe or even nonexistent and the charge for it can be as much as people earn.
“If people get injured there is no insurance and what appears to be a tempting offer can turn into a living nightmare.
“Our advice is to be wary when offered attractive jobs by people you don’t know and who your friends don’t know.
“If you have any doubts, don’t take the work and report it to one of Brighton’s homeless charities.”
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Comments(10)
MoreMikey
says...
6:57pm Thu 28 Feb 13
Council Pound
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8:03pm Thu 28 Feb 13
Vigilia
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10:56pm Thu 28 Feb 13
There are two criminal cases in the public domain of Irish travellers having been convicted and jailed for similar offences of luring men into servitude, one of whom was from Brighton.
Please provide the public, and especially the vulnerable, sufficient information to be on their guard against this criminal exploitation.
true-brightonian
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11:31pm Thu 28 Feb 13
org/?tag=ids for details of the bonus scheme. Employers need to get in on the act before it's too late!
bluemonday
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8:20am Fri 1 Mar 13
HJarrs
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8:37am Fri 1 Mar 13
However, there is an uncanny parallel with the Tories pressganging the unemployed into working for free for large companies whilst reducing the security of putting a roof over their heads.
Hove marauder
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8:16pm Fri 1 Mar 13
Council Pound
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5:23pm Mon 4 Mar 13
AlanPare wrote:Wow Stevie cleverly put but me thinks are looking closely into yourself.
Council Pound wrote:You again Dave. Talking b**locks as usual. As you well know, the average hostel worker/support worker earns about £19000-£22000 a year. Hardly major income.What you always fail to mention when you come on here peddling your bitterness is that you used to work in the drugs/homeless field yourself in Brighton, but don't now as you were found to be totally inappropriate to do so, being a liar, a bully and somebody that all your colleagues and fellow workers distrusted due to your manipulative and nasty behaviour. Remember when you got sacked for nearly burning a hostel down. Remember when you were removed from the coroners court for inappropriate behaviour. Remember when you used to start fights a leaving do's. What about that girl, the one you used to phone up in the middle of the night threatening suicide if she didn't go back out with you. You made her life a misery Dave. That's all you do Dave, project your whole miserable existence onto other people. No one misses you Dave. No one likes you. No one trusts you. No one cares about you.
What's amazing is that as all these stories get worse i.e drugs, homelessness and crime the staff are all the same players as they were 10 years ago (and earning major income).
Council Pound
says...
7:56pm Tue 5 Mar 13
AlanPare wrote:Cor blimey Stevie ,Alex, Terry, Sarah, or Bec its March 5th and you appear to not be commenting on back stories. The Council Pound still pays well eh. (even after lies and constant bullying) You fat %unt.. dissapointment.com.
Council Pound wrote:You again Dave. Talking b**locks as usual. As you well know, the average hostel worker/support worker earns about £19000-£22000 a year. Hardly major income.What you always fail to mention when you come on here peddling your bitterness is that you used to work in the drugs/homeless field yourself in Brighton, but don't now as you were found to be totally inappropriate to do so, being a liar, a bully and somebody that all your colleagues and fellow workers distrusted due to your manipulative and nasty behaviour. Remember when you got sacked for nearly burning a hostel down. Remember when you were removed from the coroners court for inappropriate behaviour. Remember when you used to start fights a leaving do's. What about that girl, the one you used to phone up in the middle of the night threatening suicide if she didn't go back out with you. You made her life a misery Dave. That's all you do Dave, project your whole miserable existence onto other people. No one misses you Dave. No one likes you. No one trusts you. No one cares about you.
What's amazing is that as all these stories get worse i.e drugs, homelessness and crime the staff are all the same players as they were 10 years ago (and earning major income).
MIDNIGHT COWBOY says...
6:55pm Thu 28 Feb 13