Question

While patrolling at a public event in a City owned park, you are told of a homeless man sitting in the corner of the park. He is dishevelled in appearance and smells bad. The homeless man is not bothering anyone, but some of the visitors have complained about the man's presence. What should you do?

1) Arrest the man and call the police
2) Instruct the man to leave on the basis that you have received complaints
3) Monitor the man's activities while on the site until he leaves
4)o nothing as it is a public event and the man is a member of the public

Answer 1

The appropriate action would be to monitor the man to ensure he is not causing a disturbance while respecting his right to be in a public space. The term 'vagrant' should not be misused, and more compassionate approaches could be taken if necessary.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on a scenario where an individual who appears to be homeless is present at a public event in a city park and has attracted complaints, the appropriate action does not involve immediate arrest or compulsory removal. The individual, as long as they are not committing any offenses or disturbing the peace, has a right to be in a public space. The best course of action would be to monitor the man's activities while ensuring that he is not harassed or mistreated simply because of complaints regarding his appearance or odor.

It is important to consider that making assumptions about the person's status or intentions without evidence can lead to unjust treatment. The term vagrant can often be misapplied to individuals who are simply in a challenging socioeconomic situation. If there is a legitimate concern for the well-being of the individual or the public, a more compassionate approach, such as contacting social services that can provide support and assistance, could be considered.