60-yr old told to 'sleep rough'

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were housing people 5 to a room in squalid conditions were charging each individual £42 a week rent. We demand that the Government and the respon sible local authorities make this provision of decent housing for homeless single people an urgent priority, and take urgent action to prevent this Rachmanite profiteering.

nd d coe cecce Committee of the Oxford City Labour Party.

Councillor Alan Griffiths THE MASSIVE Operation Major' in Oxford had nothing to do with the alleged coordinated fraud totalling millions of pounds: it was a brutal clampdown designed to victimise and intimidate a particularly vulnerable group of homeless people.

The Oxfordshire branch of the National Associatinn of Prahatinn Affirora WUW UL IIVVGUUL VIULOIO has pointed out that when the 'conveyor belt' court cases are completed, they will show frandulent claima totalling only a few tens of thousands of pounds.

Meanwhile claimants have been refused their usual payments until they have been visited, and 'urgent needs' payments have been turned down.

One claimant in his 60s with a heart complaint was last Friday told to sleep rough for the weekend. He contacted the Claimants' Defence Committee. When a solicitor and members of the Claimants' Union arrived at the DHSS, they found other claimants with the same problem.

They occupied the offices - only to be threatened with prosecution by police. The elderly claimant was taken ill and collapsed -and was admitted to hospital.

He didn't sleep rough -but no thanks to the DHSS. On his release from hospital, it was left to ambulance men to lend him the deposit for a place to sleep.

Last week saw "justice' meted out to over 90 of those 'caught in the trap'. Some had hardly had time to speak to a solicitor, and it was embarrassing to watch client and solicitor forced to discuss aspects of the case in open court.

No rights Trade union representatives have time guidelines laid down for the defence of members against disciplinary procedures. Claimants have no such rights.

But the magistrates have their 'guidelines' on sentencing - irrespective of mitigating circumstances. The sentences ranged from 30 to 45 days for one charge of deception, to 60 days and over for two charges.

Those monitoring the proceedings could see that many claimants were pleading 'guilty' just to get it all over with, having had their trial' in the newspapers and on TV.

Oné, an epileptic, pleaded guilty because he had had a fit in prison on remand: he did not realise that pleading guilty meant another 30 days inside.

Meanwhile the scandalous exploitation of the in the city continues unabated. No landlords have yet been brought to court - indeed at least one is expected to give evidence for the prosecution in the 'not guilty' cases this week. • The labour movement must rally to the support of the Claimants' Defence Committee and the call for an inquiry raised by Oxford CLP and Trades Council. • Donations and affiliations (£5) are urgently needed by the CDC, which can be contacted at 44b Princes Street, Oxford.

Anne McKinley

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ews International News no.100 September

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homeless by the 'bed and breakfast' lodging houses