Individuals from a group of rough sleepers removed from a makeshift camp on Park Lane are believed to have moved to areas along Oxford Street.

Footage circulating on social media depicts a long queue of individuals outside John Lewis, while another group is known to be residing near Marks & Spencer.

Westminster City Council informed the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that it suspects some of these individuals were part of the Park Lane encampment that was recently cleared by Transport for London (TfL).

A council representative stated that outreach teams are actively engaging with those experiencing homelessness throughout the city, offering pathways to hostel accommodations as well as assistance with addiction and mental health challenges.

The Park Lane encampment, situated on land opposite the Hilton hotel at Hyde Park Corner, was reminiscent of a similar site established last summer near Marble Arch, which was also dismantled after TfL received a court possession order.

According to recent reports by the LDRS, TfL has incurred nearly £37,000 in court fees and expenses related to bailiffs and legal counsel over the past two years as part of efforts to clear individuals from Park Lane. Additional expenses related to the court are anticipated this month.

Visits by the LDRS to the Park Lane encampment, both this year and last, included discussions with local business owners who expressed their concerns.

One restaurant owner in the vicinity commented, “The issue is that we try to get them to leave, but they won’t move. I simply want to clear them out for the sake of our customers. It’s detrimental to the neighborhood.”

Following the dismantling of the encampment, a representative from TfL stated that those sleeping rough at Park Lane had been informed that returning to the site was not acceptable and that they would be removed.

“As there is no safe location for individuals to sleep rough at this site, security personnel have been deployed to patrol the area to discourage a return,” the spokesperson added.

There has been a persistent issue of rough sleeping on Oxford Street, with some individuals reportedly congregating near John Lewis and Marks & Spencer for several months.

An LDRS reporter visited Oxford Street one evening last week and observed the two groups starting to gather outside these stores.

While several employees from businesses along Oxford Street reported having no direct problems with the gatherings, they did acknowledge concerns such as pickpocketing that affect the shopping area.

The Metropolitan Police has been contacted for comments by the LDRS.

Government statistics indicate that on a single autumn night in 2024, Westminster recorded 388 individuals sleeping rough, an increase of 40 from 2023.

Camden came in second with 132 individuals, followed by 86 in the City of London.

Conservative councilors from the West End, Paul Fisher and Tim Barnes, have previously urged TfL and Westminster to “find a permanent solution to illegal encampments, or else we risk reverting to the original problem. This is unacceptable in the heart of our capital.”

Commenting on the issue of rough sleepers on Oxford Street, Mr. Barnes pointed out that this situation existed prior to the clearing of the tents on Park Lane, indicating that TfL and the Westminster City Council were likely aware of the connection between the groups.

He observed that the problem has significantly escalated in recent years, stating, “We know that the majority of rough sleepers in the area are part of organized criminal begging rings, yet there has been insufficient coordinated action to terminate their illicit activities.”

A spokesperson for Westminster City Council remarked, “As a local authority, we have more rough sleepers than any other area in the country, and we allocate more resources—approximately £8 million annually—to help provide routes off the streets.”

“Our teams focused on rough sleeping are active every day of the week, engaging with those experiencing homelessness,” they continued. “We have over 380 hostel beds available for those without shelter, as well as 100 emergency beds on standby, meaning that no one needs to be sleeping on the streets.”

The spokesperson also added, “Over the years, we have encountered individuals who have been victims of human trafficking, those being exploited for criminal activities, and individuals facing complex mental health or social issues. We collaborate with partners across various sectors, including policing, social services, and healthcare, to ensure that appropriate support and interventions are in place.”