Since April 2025 a group of homeless people, mainly from Eritrea, have been sleeping on the steps of Westminster Cathedral. The group is on the steps from 7pm to 7.30am when Cathedral staff move them away for the start of daily services. Westminster City Council clears up cardboard used by the group and a WCc worker does a chemical wash of the areas used for urination. One of which is beside St Vincent de Paul School. Cathedral staff clean and wash the steps. For residents overlooking the Piazza it is a daily sordid sight. And site. Residents are concerned that the ongoing homeless camp attracts drug dealing which is a common occurrence on Ashley Place and Carlisle Place.
Local MP, Rachel Blake has asked the Home Office to act.
If someone is in immediate danger, needs medical assistance, or is under the age 18 please call 999.
40% increase in recorded sleeping in the open in Westminster over the previous year. March 2025
Westminster City Council is removing cardboard from the tree pit in Ashley Place on the Piazza to help deter homeless people from sleeping overnight on the Cathedral steps. March 2025.
29% increase in rough-sleepers, Evening Standard 1August 2024
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-rough-sleepers-homelessness-percentage-increase-sadik-khan-b1174145.html
Community Intervention Team
The BID, in partnership with The Passage, provide the Community Intervention Team (CIT). The CIT is a dedicated daytime street engagement team consisting of three experienced outreach workers dedicated to helping those who are rough sleeping in Victoria. The CIT are trained to locate and offer support to those who are bedded down in the local area. They head out two times a day, Monday – Friday. Their aim is to encourage people who are experiencing homelessness to visit The Passage Resource Centre, so they can access immediate welfare services and have a 1-2-1 chat with The Passage Resettlement Team. For those who do not wish to engage with services, and are known to be living on the streets, CIT work to build a rapport with these people and regularly check in on their welfare. They will also remind them that support is available whenever they want or need it.
If you are concerned about someone who is rough sleeping outside of CIT’s working hours or areas, please contact Streetlink. Streetlink is the national rough sleeping referral line, which informs local outreach teams, as well as Local Authorities and on the whereabouts of those you have seen rough sleeping. By providing as much detail as possible about the person and their location, you can help to link those sleeping on the streets with the support they need.