The latest report into homelessness by the Greater London Authority has revealed a startling growth in the number of rough sleepers from Central and Eastern Europe, with a particular stress on the number of Romanian nationals now homeless in Britain’s capital.

The report by the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) reveals that 7,581 people were sleeping rough in London in 2014/15, with 5,107 of them being ‘first time’ homeless. The figures represent an increase of 16 per cent on 2013/14, with both the previous years seeing just a one per cent rise in the numbers. 

But there was a decline in the number of British nationals who are homeless in London – from 46 per cent last year, to 43 per cent in today’s figures. The growth, it appears, is from Central and Eastern European migrants, up from 28 per cent in 2012/13, to 36 per cent in 2014/15.

The report states: “There were a significant number of rough sleepers from non-CEE European countries, mostly those in the European Economic Area, with Italy (134), the Republic of Ireland (132) and Portugal (115) continuing to be the most heavily represented. 393 (5 per cent) people seen rough sleeping in the year were from African countries, and 309 (4 per cent) were of Asian nationality.”

There are currently a total of 3212 rough sleepers who identified as British, and 2695 people from Central and Eastern Europe. The latter group is dominated by 1388 Romanians, 639 Poles, 227 Lithuanians, and 119 Bulgarians. In total, 3039 people who are homeless in London come from European countries – a startling 40 per cent against, against the 42 per cent who are British nationals.

The British government has been criticised from those on the political right for introducing the “open door immigration” policy with Europe, after the signing of the Lisbon Treaty in 2004. On January 1st 2014, the door also opened to people from Romania and Bulgaria, leading to an immigrant crime wave across major metropolitan areas.

The London Borough of the City of Westminster is home to the highest number (2570) of migrants, as reflected by the recent rise in rough sleepers from Central and Eastern Europe around the Marble Arch area. Earlier this month, Breitbart London reported that the artist behind a new, feminist statue, had complained that migrants were using the base of the sculpture as a place to sleep at night.