Homepage | Resident News | Last Update: 14 October 2026
This page is a private exchange and conversation for residents of The Danes, Basingstoke, and provides an opportunity to consider particular issues in more detail, and a way to voice opinions.
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Coming across someone sleeping in a car park or on the grounds of The Danes can raise concerns about safety, shared spaces, and the wellbeing of the person involved. It is also worth remembering that the person seeking shelter may have reached that place after losing somewhere safe to stay, not because it is where they would choose to live.
Homelessness rarely has a single cause. A tenancy may end, a relationship may break down, or someone may need to escape domestic abuse. When affordable housing is difficult to find, losing one place to live can become a crisis rather than a manageable move. Losing accommodation with family or friends is also a common route into homelessness.
We cannot know someone’s circumstances simply by seeing where they sleep. A sheltered corner may be their immediate response to having nowhere else available that night. Nor does homelessness always begin on the street: someone may first stay with friends, move between short-term arrangements, or live in temporary accommodation while trying to find a settled home.
Understanding this does not mean overlooking behaviour that causes harm or accepting that shared spaces should become places to sleep. It means separating concerns about particular behaviour from assumptions about a person’s character.
Residents of The Danes deserve a safe, well-maintained estate while also recognising that someone sleeping there needs safety, dignity and a route towards suitable accommodation. The following provides immediately guidance and contact details of who to contact when you discover a homeless person at The Danes:
The Homeless Prevention Team for Basingstoke Council can be reached by phoning 01256 844844 at any time. You may also visit the council offices during office hours Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm (excluding bank holidays), email: hpos@basingstoke.gov.uk.
Alternatively, Use Streetlink to make the local council aware of someone you have observed is homeless. StreetLink connects people sleeping rough in England and Wales to support provided by local authorities and charities.
Two local charities, The Camrose Centre and Julian House are also expert in assisting the homeless.
Other Useful Associated Services: Shelter, Home Group, and Refugee Action.
Efforts of The Danes Management and Luke Murphy MP
A message to The Danes Management on behalf of Luke Murphy, MP is copied here so that residents are aware of the efforts behind the scenes to address the issue of homelessness at The Danes:
Thank you for your email, and for the detailed information you have provided. We are sorry to hear how much distress this is causing residents, and Luke wants to help move this forward.
We have noted the steps you have taken, including the new perimeter fence, CCTV covering the boundaries and hallways, locked bin stores, the residents' group and website, and the hedge line planned for November. We also recognise that you are relaying concerns on behalf of many residents.
Luke has written to Chief Inspector Ranjan, the District Commander for Basingstoke, setting out your concerns about police response and asking what powers officers have in these circumstances, whether The Danes can be included in patrol plans, and whether a named contact can be provided.
We will write again to the Council to pass on your questions. I will ask it to restate any security recommendations it believes have not been implemented, to share the correspondence it says it sent you, and to explain the earlier funding arrangement with the Police and Crime Commissioner's office, including what was installed and whether CCTV was part of it.
We will also ask the Council about the points its first reply did not address, including which agency is leading the response, whether a multi-agency case conference will take place, and what immediate steps can be taken for residents.
We will raise the access road with Hampshire County Council as the highways authority. It would help if you could send us anything you hold on its ownership or adoption, so we can ask the right questions.
The Council has said it has no powers to remove people from private land, so we cannot promise a quick solution. Luke will press for a joint approach so that you and residents are not left to deal with this alone.
The message from Luke Murphy's office continues with advice:
Luke Murphy MP
Member of Parliament for Basingstoke
Use the contact form below to provide further feedback, or to comment on the items on this webpage. If you are reporting an anti-social incident, please provide the day, time, location, in addition to a description of what you observed.
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