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A coalition of 27 organisations has called on the government to scrap proposals to cut housing benefit of people accused of antisocial behaviour, branding the measures ‘discriminatory, ineffective and ill-conceived’, writes Clare Jerrom.

The Department for Work and Pensions issued a consultation document on housing benefit sanctions to local authorities in May. But on the final day of consultation on Tuesday, the group said the plans were likely to lead people further into poverty and create homelessness.

The coalition, including Shelter, Barnardo’s, Help the Aged, Citizens Advice and Nacro, said that far from ending antisocial behaviour it will simply move those involved and their disruptive behaviour on to a new set of neighbours.

Ben Jackson, Shelter’s director of external affairs, said: “I hope the government sees sense and listens to all those – the local authorities, the tenants groups, the legal profession, housing professionals and charities – who have spoken out against this proposal and realise that it is not part of the solution."

Earlier this month, the Local Government Association, which has joined the coalition, branded the measures -  first set out in the antisocial behaviour white paper published in March – “discriminatory”, as there was no equal penalty earmarked for offenders who did not receive benefits.

The government faced further criticism over its plans to tackle antisocial behaviour last month when a coalition of 13 charities said plans to disperse groups of young people and return under-16s to their homes – outlined in the Antisocial Behaviour Bill - are likely to breach human rights legislation.