Surprising reason Manchester's homeless camp is still growing despite St Peter's Square eviction operation

The city centre has seen multiple homeless camps over the last year, most notably in St Peter’s Square. Initially springing up under the town hall arches, the tents moved to St Peter’s Square last year, where they stayed until February 26 when Manchester council secured a ‘possession order’ from the courts and evicted them.

But the eviction operation did not solve the problem. Within hours, new camps were established on Lower Moseley Street, next to the Midland Hotel, and on Albert Square.

Some 35 tents were counted in Albert Square on March 7, but just 12 days later that figure was around 42.

Residents have tended to be ‘refugees with legal right to be here’, according to deputy council leader Joanna Midgeley, who oversees the authority’s homeless response.

Coun Midgeley said ‘the situation remains challenging’ with the camp as she gave an update on action the council is taking to tackle it on Wednesday (March 19).

“It’s not being helped by activists buying tents and making it bigger,” she said. “This is a national issue that’s being played out on the streets of Manchester and across the country.”

READ MORE: Video shows St Peter's Square homeless camp eviction as refugees feel 'kicked like a football'

More than 200 camp residents have been placed into support accommodation by the council, the deputy leader added, and a further 25 ‘have been voluntarily connected to other local authorities’.

Work is ongoing for other residents who the authority ‘does not owe a duty to’ as officers seek ‘a solution with private rented accommodation’.

Previously, a council spokesperson explained they could not evict the new camps because its possession order ‘had to relate to a small defined area’ of St Peter’s Square ‘to ensure it was reasonable and proportionate’.

They added in a statement issued on March 7: “It remains our position that such encampments anywhere in the city are not in anyone’s best interests and are not a suitable, safe or sanitary place from which to access the support available to people facing homelessness.

“We will continue to engage with those sleeping in the tents, people who are refugees, and continue to offer temporary accommodation to anyone classed as being in priority need in the same way we would for anyone sleeping rough.

“We understand the frustrations of many Manchester residents and local businesses that the camp has relocated to Albert Square and we are reviewing all our options to resolve the situation.”