This research aimed to examine how enforcement was being used specifically to address street homelessness. Whilst the research looked at behaviour that was associated with rough sleeping, such as begging and street drinking, this was not the primary focus of the analysis. In doing, so the report has analysed the extent to which enforcement measures impact on homeless people, local authorities, and other statutory and non-statutory services and how they interact with strategies to address wider antisocial behaviour.

The findings of this report are based on the face-to-face survey of 458 people who were either currently rough sleeping or had done so within the last 12 months. An online survey was also sent to all England and Wales local authorities and 81 local authorities responded; additional FOI requests were sent to local authorities and police. Fifteen in-depth interviews with rough sleepers were also conducted and a further 18 interviews were held with a range of stakeholders in the three case studies and at a national level that were selected to represent a geographical spread of England and Wales and use of enforcement. All research was conducted in summer 2016.