Northern Ireland

Belfast benches used by rough sleepers cost council almost £3,000 to reinstate

The benches were removed from Jubilee Square in Belfast city centre. Picture by Mal McCann
The benches were removed from Jubilee Square in Belfast city centre. Picture by Mal McCann The benches were removed from Jubilee Square in Belfast city centre. Picture by Mal McCann

BENCHES used by rough sleepers that were controversially removed by Belfast City Council cost the local authority almost £3,000 to reinstate.

The wooden slats were sawn off before Christmas last year in Jubilee Square/Gardens, at the junction of Victoria Street and High Street.

But they were repaired within days following a backlash from homelessness campaigners and councillors after The Irish News highlighted their removal.

At the time Belfast City Council (BCC) said the slats were removed "as part of general improvements and landscaping" and to "address concerns raised around anti-social behaviour and on-street drinking".

However, it has emerged no-one was prosecuted for on-street drinking at Jubilee Square in 2017.

BCC also confirmed "no formal complaints" were received about Jubilee Square, although it said bodies including police gave "ongoing feedback" about criminality and anti-social behaviour (ASB).

Internal correspondence obtained by The Irish News shows officials agreed to remove the benches after a meeting with PSNI City Centre Beat – a policing team that receives funding from business groups.

In an email in November, a police officer thanked council officials for agreeing to "take such effective and prompt action".

They wrote: "This should definitely assist in reducing ASB in the area. Perhaps we could reassess in a couple of weeks, by which time the individuals should hopefully be gone (albeit to somewhere else – another bridge to cross!!)."

In another email, a council official said the removal of the slats would "deter offenders from sitting and congregating to drink alcohol."

He also said the site is "under consideration for purchase by a local hotel group".

In an earlier message that month, he described how there had been reports of drug use in the grounds of the nearby St George's Church and contractors had "removed a bucket full of needles that church staff had discovered".

He also said "on-street drinking continues on a daily basis at Jubilee Gardens".

"These drinkers are abusive to other pedestrians and continue to litter the site. Local businesses are complaining about the continued ASB behaviour at this location," he added.

Further emails show council staff discussed how to respond to criticism over the subsequent removal of the benches.

It was later agreed to have the benches reinstated as a "temporary measure pending a more detailed council review".

The correspondence was obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

BCC said it could not provide the specific cost of removing the benches as it was undertaken as part of normal operational duties, but it confirmed reinstating them cost £2,758.21.

It said on-street drinking prosecutions can be pursued after council officers witness incidents, or following formal reports forwarded by police.

"In the past 12 months, council officers have witnessed no incidents, and the PSNI have forwarded no formal reports," a spokesman said.

"However, the PSNI did write to Belfast City Council expressing their concerns regarding ongoing anti-social behaviour in the area, which was impacting on nearby residents and businesses.

"Council officers also regularly came across evidence of drinking in the area.

"Through our work with the police and other partners in the voluntary and statutory sectors, it was identified that those who may be consuming alcohol in this area may have had serious underlying vulnerabilities and, as such, the services of street outreach services were deemed to be the most appropriate response."

He added that BCC has "not received any formal approach" about the potential sale of Jubilee Gardens, and its review of the site is "ongoing".

Five rough-sleepers were recorded in Belfast last year, according to an annual overnight count by agencies including the Housing Executive.

New Benches at Jubilee Square which were reinstalled by Belfast City Council Picture by Hugh Russell.
New Benches at Jubilee Square which were reinstalled by Belfast City Council Picture by Hugh Russell. New Benches at Jubilee Square which were reinstalled by Belfast City Council Picture by Hugh Russell.
New Benches at Jubilee Square which were reinstalled by Belfast City Council Picture by Hugh Russell.
New Benches at Jubilee Square which were reinstalled by Belfast City Council Picture by Hugh Russell. New Benches at Jubilee Square which were reinstalled by Belfast City Council Picture by Hugh Russell.
New Benches at Jubilee Square which were reinstalled by Belfast City Council Picture by Hugh Russell.
New Benches at Jubilee Square which were reinstalled by Belfast City Council Picture by Hugh Russell. New Benches at Jubilee Square which were reinstalled by Belfast City Council Picture by Hugh Russell.