Moving the problem of homelessness : police powers in public spaces

Governments around the world use various methods of social control to secure conformity with established norms by preventing, adjudicating, remedying and sanctioning non-compliance. Laws, policies and administrative regulations define, construct and respond to people, behaviour or status defined as ‘undesirable’, ‘dangerous’, criminal or socially problematic. One measure introduced across Australia to control people in public spaces is 'move-on powers’, which allow police to control both the users and the usage of public space. These laws have been introduced in most Australian jurisdictions, with troubling implications.