The Government has been ordered to stop using “misleading” information about homelessness in the UK, following an intervention by the UK Statistics Authority.

The data watchdog disputed figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government that claimed last year that homelessness had been more than halved since 2003. However, this claim was found to gloss over the fact that this was only the case under a narrow definition of homelessness – to include only those who authorities are obliged to help. The number did not take into account homeless people who were given assistance under other schemes.

According to a report in The Independent, the Government said those who meet the statutory definition of homelessness has decreased since 2003 due to councils receiving additional funding and powers to intervene and assist. In reality, the overall number of people who face homelessness has not dropped.

But Baroness Grender, a Liberal Democrat peer, submitted a formal complaint to the UK Statistics Authority about the use of the figures in this way. Ed Humpherson, the Authority’s director general, said he agreed with her complaint. He described the Department’s use of the figures as “disappointing” and that it was “potentially misleading” to the public.

Mr. Humpherson said he will now seek a commitment from Department staff that they will give “greater clarity” on data usage in the future.

Baroness Grender said that the Government “has been caught out playing a numbers game, rather than accepting there is a problem, and getting on with the important work of finding solutions. It is time to stop spinning the statistics and start solving the problem.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Communities and Local Government told The Independent: “We’re aware of the issue raised and have taken steps to make sure this does not arise in future.”

A woman from Gloucester has finally married a man who she first met more than 40 years ago – when he was homeless and rooting in bins for scraps of food!

Joan Neininger first met Ken Selway in 1975, when he was sleeping rough. But she thought he was different, dressed neatly in a grey belted gabardine mac and drinking only milk. At the time, however, she was a married mother but she realised Ken could be one of the many ordinary people who had fallen on hard times.

“When I saw him ferreting through the bins outside a fish and chip shop near my bookshop in Gloucester,” said Joan, “I never thought for a minute it would end like this. But, although he was living on the streets, I knew straight away that Ken was lovely man with a beautiful soul.”

With the blessing of her husband Norman – to whom she was married for 30 years – she invited Ken in for a meal. But, for a long time he refused all offers of help and money, telling her: ‘You’ll get into trouble’. Eventually, her father convinced Ken it was the whole family who were worried about him.

But, according to the Daily Mail website, even though they had formed a long-lasting friendship, it was only last year, when the pair moved into the same care home, that they decided to get married.

The happy couple, both 89, finally got married on Saturday in front of family and friends. Joan said at the wedding: “It is lovely for everyone to have come today and everyone has made such a fuss of us”

The wedding took place at the Cinderford registry office, where Joan carried a traditional bouquet and was accompanied by bridesmaids. After tying the knot, the happy couple returned to Hanover Court residential home – where they both live – for the reception.

Rowena Hindle, regional manager for Hanover Housing, said: “The wedding was beautiful. Joan and Ken were both nervous but full of humour and giggles. This really shows a positive side of people growing older and being in a residential setting with extra care and still being able to make these important decisions and do what they want to do.”

Estate manager, Helen Lee, added: “The wedding has been absolutely fabulous. Lovely that Ken and Joan are finally married after all this time.

They are really pleased to have had such a good day with their family here with them.”

Joe Anderson, the mayor of Liverpool, has told council officers, the police and homeless charities to take action against people who, he says, are travelling into the city from other areas to beg for money. He also wants to tackle the issue of people who already have homes or are refusing accommodation because they want to stay on the streets and beg.

Speaking in the Liverpool Echo, Mr. Anderson said: “Our latest figures show that in December there were 124 people begging in the city centre and only 12 of those were rough sleepers – the rest actually had homes. Every day people criticise the council for not tackling beggars but also for not tackling homelessness – often these people are not homeless.”

“We have a statutory duty to provide support and accommodation for the homeless and we do, but some people don’t want a home and some have one already.”

The council said the information has been collected with the help of homeless and housing charity the Whitechapel Centre, which it supports in its regular work on the streets of Liverpool.

However, David Carter, the chief executive of the Whitechapel Centre, said it is important to remember that there are many rough sleepers who don’t choose to beg. He said: “That number of 12 people is not all the rough sleepers in the city centre, there are other rough sleepers – but most aren’t begging.”

“The begging problem is happening for a number of different reasons – this includes organised begging by criminal groups, we have evidence of this taking place. The people being abused by these groups are victims themselves and it is very sad to see.”

He added: “The police can take action against these groups and that is what we want to see. We have all got a role to play in giving people options and changing behaviours.”

But news of the ‘crackdown’ has caused a heated debate on social media.

Posting on Facebook, Amy Wright said: “Not all these beggars are vulnerable and deffo not genuine. Those who are vulnerable and are in need don’t sit on corners all day everyday, they also utilise the help available.”

Another post, from John Gunning, agreed: “I can’t see how the genuinely vulnerable will be targeted, the many scam artists will be weeded out. People need to realise there’s a difference between begging, rough sleeping, and homelessness. I’m with the Mayor on this one.”

Others shared their personal experiences with beggars. Victoria Emma Gillard wrote: “We’ve had beggars coming into KFC asking us for money while we eat. I hate judging people and assuming things, but they were very persistent that we had to give them something. As soon as they got what little change we had, they hastily walked off without saying thank you.”

But not everyone agreed with Mayor Anderson’s approach. Chris Driscoll said: “Just another waste of council tax money, open more shelters for the homeless instead, uncle Joey.”

Nick Fischer posted: “So he won’t open up the unused buildings but instead he’ll go round and attack those living in the streets? What a compassionate human being he is! Let’s not kid ourselves, this action won’t just stop that tiny, tiny minority that beg when they don’t need to, this will affect the already vulnerable people suffering with mental health issues who are on the streets.”

Michelle Langan, a Liverpool writer and homeless campaigner, questioned whether organised gangs are behind some of the begging in the city. She wrote on Twitter: “We see a lot of regular people at night, none of whom are ‘organised gangs,’ so unsure where this originates. The simple solution would be for those in charge to take to the streets and see with their own eyes.”

It remains to be seen whether this new ‘crackdown’ will solve the problem or just drive the homeless further into the shadows.

A homeless man was the victim of a nasty Cambridge University student who burned money to mock those sleeping rough. Student Ronald Coyne, of Pembroke College, sparked outrage across the country after being filmed burning a £20 note in front of a rough sleeper who asked him for help.

The homeless man, Ryan Davies, a 31-year-old unemployed crane operator, was in Bridge Street, Cambridge, when he was taunted by the student. He said Mr. Coyne told him: “I’ll give you some change. I’ve changed it into fire” before posting the footage on Snapchat.

Mr. Davies, who has been on the streets for three months, told Cambridge News: “There were some people going past and I was asking them for spare change. I’m homeless. I asked one man for spare change. I was polite about it as I always am.”

“He says ‘let’s see what I’ve got’ and pulls out a £20 note and went to pass it to me. I couldn’t believe my luck. But then he pulled it back and lit it and said ‘I’ll give you some change, I’ve changed it into fire.’”

“It was absolutely disgusting. It was horrible. Just plain nasty. I suppose it’s better than getting punched and kicked or even spat on because that has happened before.” Other rough sleepers have also told of their disgust.

Since the story went viral a petition has been launched to “Remove Ronald Coyne from Cambridge University”. More than 3,000 people have signed the online petition after the footage revealed Mr. Coyne using a cigarette lighter to burn the money. The reasons for signing the petition are cited as: “Utterly disgusting behaviour should be punished.” “Not only removed from the University, but be made to work voluntarily for 200 hours in a homeless shelter.”

The Cambridge University Conservative Association (CUCA) said Ronald Coyne, their communications officer, has now been expelled from the group.

A Cambridge University spokesperson said: “The university is committed to respecting the rights and dignity of all members of our community. We expect our students to treat others with respect, courtesy and consideration at all times, and the university takes allegations of unacceptable behaviour very seriously. We do not comment on individual cases.”

It would seem that Ronald Coyne displayed all the attributes that will make him a perfect Conservative politician.

A group of squatters has occupied an empty £15m London property owned by a Russian oligarch, Andrey Goncharenko, and opened it as a homeless shelter.

The squatters – Autonomous Nation of Anarchist Libertarians, better known as ANAL – said they gained access to the building through an open window on the 23^rd of January and have housed 25 homeless people so far, many of whom had been sleeping rough around Victoria station.

One homeless mother and daughter who had been sleeping around Victoria station said they were delighted to have been offered shelter in the oligarch’s home. “Westminster council wants to send homeless people like us out of London and there isn’t much provision around for homeless women,” she said.

ANAL member, Tom Fox, said: “It is criminal that there are so many homeless people and at the same time so many empty buildings. Our occupation is highlighting this injustice. We have squatted many other high-profile buildings in central London in the past,” said Fox. “Admiralty Arch, Mayfair and Pall Mall. There are so many empty buildings like this one in central London.”

Figures published last week show that rough sleepers of have increased by 16% since last to more than 4,000. Perversely, there are more than 200,000 empty homes in England, according to the government.

Fox added that ANAL members had set up a projector so they could hold movie nights, provided portable cookers to make hot meals for homeless people and are planning to host talks about homelessness and other issues. They have also opened a shop offering free clothing.

The house, which was built in 1825, has many listed features such as ornate, hand-carved fireplaces – and now planning permission has been granted for a swimming pool in the basement. The property is one of four purchased by Goncharenko over a three-year period. His portfolio also includes Hanover Lodge, in Regent’s Park, for which he paid £120m – making it one of the UK’s most expensive homes.