HOMELESS people staged a demonstration against “ridiculous” new laws aimed at moving travellers out of parks.

A group of homeless people and travellers have been camping outside St Peter’s Church, Brighton, in a protest against new Public Spaces Protection Orders which give council officers powers to issue fines to travellers and people sleeping in tents in 12 Brighton and Hove parks and green spaces.

The new powers will allow seafront officers, Cityparks rangers and the travellers team to issue fixed penalty notices to people who occupy the designated areas.

Gary Birdsall, 44, who has been living on the streets for 28 years said: “I’m absolutely appalled by the PSPO. It’s absolutely ridiculous and we’re begging the council to overturn it.”

The group will be demonstrating outside Brighton Town Hall today (thurs) and handing over a petition against the orders signed by 925 people.

Mr Birdsall, who used to sell double glazed windows, said: “I’ve been out on the streets for 20 odd years and I keep saying to folk I’ll do another 20 odd years but if we don’t get this overturned I won’t be able to stay out.

“I won’t be able to sleep in a shelter on the seafront if this law doesn’t get thrown out, it’s disgusting.”

Flick Lopes, 27, who has been sleeping in her car since October, and is also studying for a Masters in globalisation, politics and philosophy at the University of Brighton labelled the orders as “ridiculous”.

Ms. Lopes said: “It’s not fair for people who have nothing to be harassed and criminalised.”