OPINION: Winchester is abandoning the homeless and drunk

Winchester. A city captured in the endless pages of history, and the creative hub for many artists and musicians, but behind this aesthetic portrayal, is a city plagued by drunkenness, homelessness and shoplifting.

And yet, these issues are not seen as a genuine problem, and instead a burden on the council desperate to protect the city’s reputation as a pristine city.

According to Councillor Ian Tait, market traders have “been threatened with violence” by a group of “around 10–15 individuals,” however, many of the market stall owners told us that this was not the case at all.

One market stall owner told us that this claim was completely inaccurate, and in fact, many of the smaller businesses benefit from the company and even appreciate it.

“In this city, there is a real sense of community. We do not abandon one another if they happen to be heavy drinkers or homeless,” said another stall owner.

“It seems as though it is easier to target these people than actually help them.”

Ironically, Winol found that although Winchester’s market owners were mainly unaffected by the anti-social behaviour, young women under the age of 30, did feel uneasy.

“I feel guilty for judging a character, but I cannot help but feel on edge,” one 21-year-old told us.

“You see all these horror stories of young girls being followed and attacked, and I don’t want to become another one of those headlines.”

“I feel like as a society, we are almost conditioned as girls to feel threatened by men in general, but in particular by drunks and drug users,” said another young woman.

“I think many of these people just need help. Not to be treated like criminals by the people who can actually help them.”