So let me get this straight. We spend public money issuing someone who has nothing with a £100 fine that would see them fed for a month (possibly more) and then when they don’t pay it we spend more public money to increase it to £1000 and give them a criminal record so their chances of getting back on their feet become even worse and maybe just maybe we issue an arrest warrant (using public money again) and lock them up for a few days to teach them a lesson when they don’t pay the fine.
End result we spend a whole heap of cash to give them a night or two in a bed with a couple of hot meals.
If that’s the end position why not give them £100 to stay in a low cost B and B and have a meal or two at the local pizza place? Same net effect but only costs us £100.
I am of course being flippant but really how is criminalising people in this situation of any humanitarian, societal or financial benefit.
Better to look for solutions to the problems that put and keep them there.