Private firm faces backlash for installing metal SPIKES outside Manchester building to ‘stop homeless people sleeping rough’

A PRIVATE company has been slammed for installing metal “homeless spikes” outside its building in the city centre.

Locals noticed the spikes, which have been installed outside of Pall Mall Court, in Manchester’s city centre, were installed in a bid to stop homeless people from sleeping near the building.

The spikes have been installed in a sheltered area, which could have been used by homeless people looking to shield themselves from the rain.

They were installed outside Pall Mall Medical, a private healthcare centre which rents part of the building.

The company that manages the building, GVA, declined to comment.

City centre spokesman Pat Karney has slammed the move.

Councillor Karney told the “We don’t want to see any of these devices in our city centre.

“This is not the answer to rough sleeping, it’s demeaning in that way.

“We are not stupid, we know that there is a lot of irritation and a lot of mess caused by people, but the first thing they should do is phone the town hall and see what we can do.

“There is a lot of this in places like New York, and it’s not the road we want to go down.

“It’s not the solution and it really aggravates and alienates people.”

Last year a tattoo parlour came under fire for installing sprinklers that prevent homeless people from bedding down in front of it.

Motion sensors trigger a soaking for anyone who strays too close to the studio at night in Dublin, Ireland.

City councillor Michael O’Brien described the behaviour of the business in the popular Temple Bar area of the city as “a disgrace”, adding: “If anyone was to wander in there, they could get a soaking, but if it was a sub-zero night, that is really bad and potentially very dangerous.”