Rough Sleepers Ordered Off Retail Stores Land in Hartlepool...
- Jul 27
- 3 min read
20th July 2026
A formal notice has been placed outside a Hartlepool Retail store ordering rough sleepers to leave the supermarket’s private land immediately.
The notice, issued by enforcement company MS Webb & Co Ltd on behalf of Wm Morrison Supermarkets Ltd, is addressed to “persons unknown and belongings” with it being reported that there may be as many as Six people sleeping rough on the Retail Stores Land illegally. .
The legal notice states that individuals “have been occupying or remaining on the supermarket’s property without permission” and warns enforcement agents could be instructed to remove them if they fail to leave voluntarily.
The Teesside & Durham Post understands that the notice relates specifically to rough sleepers who’ve been sleeping on land belonging to the Hartlepool store which its claimed have now become a nuisance to locals attempting to use the store by sitting in close proximity to the stores entrance. .
Belongings could be removed
The notice which the Teesside & Durham Post understands was served in late June 2026 tells those concerned to vacate the site with all of their possessions immediately.
It also warns that belongings left on the land could be treated as abandoned and removed, disposed of or destroyed, referring to the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977.
The document further claims that Morrisons will not accept liability for losses suffered as a result of the removal or disposal of belongings, with the notice, whilst not appearing to be a formal court order, the notice itself has been served on behalf of the landowner by the solicitors warning those occupying the site illegally that further enforcement action may follow.
Homelessness concerns
The appearance of the notice raises wider concerns about the true number of people sleeping rough in Hartlepool and the support available to those without secure accommodation.
Its claimed retail stores in Hartlepool have seen a huge influx of supposedly ‘Homeless’ individuals sitting near the entrance to retail stores with many locals feeling the practice is ‘intimidating’ some shoppers.
A sign of a wider problem...
Some shoppers and nearby businesses are said to be welcoming the efforts to prevent people sleeping or leaving belongings around commercial premises, with some claiming the enforcement notices are an appropriate response to people who can gain access to homeless support, yet are actively choosing not to engage with support services.
Hartlepool’s Hidden Homeless Epidemic
The incident is nevertheless a visible reminder that rough sleeping remains a significant issue in Hartlepool with the North East Coastal Town boasting one of the Highest Social Housing disqualification rates in the region, figures which were only revealed as part of the Teesside & Durham Post’s investigation into Housing Corruption at Hartlepool Borough Council under its Hartlepool Homesearch Scheme which was published back in October 2025. .
However, some have warned that the legal notice could lead to those involved in the legal action being moved from one supermarket site only to result in them relocating to another part of the town complicating the legal process even further. With the notice seemingly having little in the way of deterring those sleeping rough on the Hartlepool Retail Site, with one of our reporters observing a number of rough sleepers camped at the site as early as 6am on Monday 20th June, with the legal notice doing little in the way of deterring those from vacating the site prompting what could be an expensive legal battle for the storeowners.
