The council says soup runs are "damaging" for homeless people

Westminster City Council has suggested councils should have the power to restrict them - a proposal included in the 10th London Local Authorities Bill.

The council said giving homeless people free soup "damages health and life chances" and did not solve problems.

A homeless charity criticised the move, saying people will be "left to starve".

Westminster Council said many groups distributed free food in residential areas, disturbing and "impacting" on the local community, which prompted it to put forward the proposal.

'Damaging' effect

A statement from the council said there were between 80 and 100 homeless people on its streets on any given night but there were at least 50 groups distributing free food.

It said the soup runs draw a large number of people who "create public order issues, regularly requiring police assistance".

We fear that if Westminster is successful in their bid to restrict soup runs some of the most vulnerable people in society will literally be left to starve Luke Evans, Housing Justice

Councillor Angela Harvey, cabinet member for housing, said: "Handing out free food only serves to keep people on the streets for longer, damaging their health and life chances.

"This view is shared by the founder of the Big Issue John Bird who has publicly voiced his own concerns about the detrimental effect soup runs have on rough sleepers."

But Luke Evans, policy officer for Housing Justice, a charity which oversees soup runs, disputed the claims.

He said: "We fear that if Westminster is successful in their bid to restrict soup runs some of the most vulnerable people in society will literally be left to starve."

Mr Evans also said a survey by the group in March showed only 32 groups undertook soup runs in London.

He added the runs were concentrated around Westminster Cathedral, Victoria station, Lincoln's Inn, the Strand, Southampton Street and Temple in Westminster and Waterloo in Lambeth, "none of which are primarily residential".

The bill is open for public consultation and will go to Parliament in November.