Homelessness, begging and problem solving.

Saturday June 23rd 1928

"INCAPABLY DRUNK"

There has been a rise in the numbers of homeless people in our towns and cities over the last few years. In Lincoln, for instance, the numbers of homeless people has tripled since 2010/11 https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/figures-reveal-how-much-homelessness-1693059 . The more I look into the cases of my great grandfather, the more I seem to be able to draw parallels with our current society.

This matter was mentioned as the first news item in the regular "Police Courts" section of The Grantham Journal. "John Wilson" had been found so drunk he could not stand at St. Peters Hill, Grantham, at 10.50 pm. He was discovered by my great grandfather, then Police Constable James Bramhall. Telling the magistrate that he was from Hartlepool, he said he was "very sorry", and that if the magistrate was inclined to be merciful, he would undertake not to come back to Grantham.

The Chief Constable, who was presenting the case to the court, gave his thoughts on contemporary issues of homelessness and begging. "...(we)...get no end of these men here; where they come from we do not know". As for the judgement of the court? Well, they decided that there would be no penalty, as long as the man "left town forthwith".

There are some very different responses to homelessness in Lincolnshire now, though one might argue that there is still some way to go to tackling homelessness as it relates to crime and disorder. Around a third of people released from prison do not have accommodation https://www.crisis.org.uk/ending-homelessness/law-and-rights/prison-leavers/ , which leads to more crime being committed and a revolving door in and out of prison. Emily Goddard has written an excellent piece on the issue here https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/nov/28/ex-prisoners-streets-rough-sleeping-short-sentences

While local authorities now have a duty to house homeless people, the magistrates in 1928 at least had the restraint to know that putting Mr Wilson in prison was not likely to help him...though a promise to leave town would be an unlikely judgement these days?

IN OTHER NEWS: "OUR KITCHEN CORNER - WRITTEN BY "A HOUSEWIFE" - HOW TO BOIL FISH

ADVERT OF THE WEEK: CONFECTIONARY - Have you tasted it yet? If not, try it to-day. It will give you every satisfaction. ... by The Grantham Equitable Co-operative Society