More than 40 tents have appeared on a central London road, with local shopkeepers reporting repeated thefts and anti-social behaviour. The camp on the central reservation of Euston Road has grown since it first appeared in August 2022, despite visits from council homelessness teams and police.
Businesses report daily thefts
Local businesses have complained of people allegedly stealing alcohol and solvents, with one shopkeeper saying: "They steal alcohol and solvents from my shop on a daily basis – I've lost hundreds, if not thousands, in business as a result." The shopkeeper claimed the problem had been ongoing since the summer of 2023, and that police had been called several times, but the situation had not stopped.
Residents have also described intimidation when attempting to film what is happening. The shopkeeper told the Daily Mail: "You call them out, and they get very aggressive; they hate you filming them."
Camp in Starmer's constituency
The Euston camp is located in Sir Keir Starmer's Holborn and St Pancras constituency. Many of the rough sleepers are understood to be from Romania and Bulgaria. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said officers were aware of the congregation and were working with partners to find a "long-term solution". Camden Council said its priority was to help those sleeping rough "rebuild their lives away from the streets", while also working with partners to ensure the area remained safe and maintained.
Rough sleeper's account
Maria, from the Romanian city of Timișoara, claimed she had come to the UK for a "better life" and alleged she had only been in the camp for a month. It was unclear if she was in the UK legally. Asked why she was in the UK, she claimed: "There are no possibilities, no housing in Romania. I am homeless. That's why I am here. [Camden Council] are wicked, they are not helping me find housing and they are now on holiday. I'm not happy, I cry, I am always very stressed. I don't want to be here."
Previous exposure of organised gang
The Daily Express previously exposed an organised Romanian begging gang operating in central London. The investigation found members of the gang had been operating around Marble Arch, with its alleged ringleader Iliuta Gruia previously receiving a restraining order in Romania after threats to kill children. The Express also confronted members of the gang alongside Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, who said those found guilty of crimes should be deported.
