London Isn’t What You Think It Is

Added: 2026-05-17

[00:00:05]Got a hole in my leg. You got a hole in your neck. Can I see it?

[00:00:10]>> Yeah.

[00:00:10]>> The uh these over there, they will not see me.

[00:00:14]>> I'm on heroine and crack.

[00:00:17]>> I slept for two days.

[00:00:19]>> And if you could sum up being homeless in one sentence on the street of London, how would you sum that up?

[00:00:28]A couple times we woke up next to their bodies or near like near us. I remember one night we woke up in the morning the guy's been dead for hours.

[00:00:38]>> Nine people died that I know of that I people that I knew personally in Camden November last year from fentinel.

[00:00:44]>> Did you say you've been raped?

[00:00:47]Yeah, I bet that.

[00:00:56]>> And what's your name, brother?

[00:00:57]>> My name is Jason.

[00:00:58]>> Jason Aaron.

[00:00:59]>> Nice to meet you.

[00:01:00]>> Nice to meet you, Jason. Tell me about your situation. So, are you currently homeless?

[00:01:03]>> At the moment, I'm homeless. Out of prison.

[00:01:07]Out prison last year. I've been trying to get accommodation.

[00:01:10]This is hard.

[00:01:12]>> How long How long have you been homeless for?

[00:01:14]>> On and off. for maybe 2 three years.

[00:01:17]>> 2 3 years. Yeah. And when you was in prison, what have you gone to prison for Jason?

[00:01:21]>> Um violence, drugs.

[00:01:24]>> And I guess heck, how's your life taken apart? Like it's gone down that route.

[00:01:27]Does that make sense? Like what was the trigger?

[00:01:28]>> To tell you the truth, I don't know the wrong crowd. Um peer pressure, stuff like that.

[00:01:36]>> And have you have you got any family at the moment?

[00:01:38]>> Yeah.

[00:01:39]>> Are they aware of your situation?

[00:01:40]>> Yeah, they're very aware. I'm the black sheep of the family. Well, I'd want to be the black people from you, but it's just the way you look at me.

[00:01:53]>> Um, Andrea, how have you ended up homeless in the streets of London?

[00:01:56]>> I came to London 24 years ago. Um, my parents up and I went to live on the island with my mom. I was okay whenever I come here and um, not on anything. got my ex. He got me on crack and then um he was actually injected me with heroin when he was sleeping because he had a habit and I knew nothing about it and I remember saying to him one day, "It can't be that hard to stop." Biggest mistake of my life. That was the worst sentence I ever said to someone. He said something, "I'm going to get her a habit show." So he was injecting me when I was sleeping with skin popping when I was sleeping. This ended up muscle deterioration in that shoulder like that arm will go like that. That arm physically can't go any further than that. will not move. Got muscle chewy region.

[00:02:38]>> Your boyfriend was injecting you with her while you sleep.

[00:02:39]>> Yeah, when I was sleeping. Yeah.

[00:02:42]>> Hey Colin, how are you?

[00:02:44]>> Yeah, homeless. Um, I'm on drugs.

[00:02:49]>> How long you been homeless?

[00:02:52]>> Two years ago.

[00:02:54]Really?

[00:02:54]>> And how old are you, Colin?

[00:02:56]>> Um, 53.

[00:03:00]>> 53.

[00:03:01]>> No way. And how so how have you ended up homeless? What was the story?

[00:03:06]When my mom and my dad passed away, they were in a counseling place and the counsel me out because >> And how long have you been homeless since you said?

[00:03:21]>> Well, off and on.

[00:03:24]I say about 8 years. I mean, not off and on.

[00:03:27]>> Yeah. Yeah. Like >> in homeless again.

[00:03:32]>> And Yeah. What addictions have you picked up on the streets of London?

[00:03:36]I'm on heroin and crack.

[00:03:40]>> Is it true that fentinel's an issue as well now?

[00:03:43]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[00:03:44]>> Is that common?

[00:03:45]>> Yeah.

[00:03:47]But it is nearly dangerous and strong.

[00:03:55]If you have life with too much, that's it. You're dead.

[00:03:59]>> Is it easy to get fentinel? If I wanted to buy fentinel now and I said, "Gu, can you get me some?" How easy would that for me to get?

[00:04:06]>> No. No. Evening time. Yeah.

[00:04:09]>> Evening time.

[00:04:10]>> Yeah.

[00:04:10]>> And how much is fentinel in London?

[00:04:12]>> Uh, free for 20.

[00:04:15]>> Free for 20.

[00:04:15]>> Yeah.

[00:04:16]>> And I guess what addictions have you picked up tonight? Obviously being on streets isn't easy.

[00:04:20]>> Heroin mainly heroin.

[00:04:22]>> Um, that's mainly that's the main ones, >> I guess. How did you get addicted in the first place to heroin?

[00:04:27]>> Went to prison. Got introduced to in prison. I didn't realize I was doing a 3ear sentence. I took it for 18 months.

[00:04:33]When I came out from inside, then I realized I was in it.

[00:04:38]>> Sorry to hear that, but it >> is what it is, isn't it?

[00:04:42]>> What What's your sleeping conditions like at the moment?

[00:04:45]>> Well, here anyway.

[00:04:47]>> Literally anywhere.

[00:04:48]>> Literally. Literally.

[00:04:50]Sleep. I don't sleep all day. I slept for 2 days.

[00:04:54]Yeah. And the only time I slept is cuz I I sleep on the bus.

[00:04:59]>> You haven't slept in two days yet?

[00:05:00]>> Two days.

[00:05:03]Why so soft is in case there's nowhere safe to be sleeping? Sure. It's not safe out here. Cold. But I get so cold my hands.

[00:05:14]>> Do you see a way out of this situation?

[00:05:16]>> I do. My dog.

[00:05:17]>> My mate. Um I >> have you lost many friends to old.

[00:05:25]>> Yeah, a few. Yeah, I'd say all together three or four. I had a person earlier J like he jumped around and looked at me.

[00:05:38]>> He what?

[00:05:41]>> Spat at you?

[00:05:42]>> Yeah.

[00:05:44]>> You asked someone for change this morning and he spat on you?

[00:05:46]>> Yeah.

[00:05:49]How >> And how often does thing does things like that happen?

[00:05:52]>> No, three times a week. You get spat on about three times a week.

[00:05:56]>> Well, and I've had all my clothes stolen and my sleeping bag, everything.

[00:06:09]I ended up homeless, got clean, cleaned for a lot of years and then met my husband and we got together and we're together 11 years and he was using on and off and I got back on it for a little bit and he passed away 3 years ago and the depression kicked in and lost the flat we're living in. But first, a special report on the latest shocking rise in homelessness, even among those in active employment. New figures out today show one in four of the households in England becoming homeless last year, had at least one person in work. London had the highest number of people suffering in work homelessness, followed by the Southeast of England.

[00:06:56]But we scripted on methodon because of the fentanyl situation. Nine people died that I know of that I people that I knew personally in Camden in November last year from fentinel and even around King's Cross people come up to me on a daily basis like can you get any can you get any f it's bad >> is it easy to get hold of now in London very very easy like very easy >> would you say more people are using fentol than any other drug now >> absolutely >> absolutely >> and if if I wanted to get fentol now how much would it cost me £510 £10.

[00:07:31]>> £510. And how long does that last?

[00:07:34]>> No, I don't I don't.

[00:07:35]>> Have you never done fentinel?

[00:07:36]>> No.

[00:07:37]>> And how long have you been homeless now, Andrew?

[00:07:39]>> I've been homeless now um since Nathan died to say about 2 and a half years cuz it was about 6 months after he passed away that I lost the fl.

[00:07:47]>> And what would you say is the worst memory that you've had since you've been on the streets?

[00:07:50]>> Getting attacked, beaten up.

[00:07:53]>> I was sleeping actually in Hamstead High Street places and someone come in face.

[00:07:59]That was all bruised. Too hot down there. It was like >> And one thing I've been made aware of, especially when women are homeless, that men often ask homeless women for business.

[00:08:08]>> Oh my god, I get it all the time. Every day of the week, I get it. And I had a man like really harassed me a few weeks ago. He's going, "Why not? Why not? Why not?" But a lot of girls do it cuz they want money for drugs. Years ago, when my best friend died, he died from injecting heroin. And that's oh my god that's like I told the story before for um the downfalls of injecting heroin especially groin injected but it was groin injected and he done his right leg and he had a big absess went to hospital and he tied his femoral artery and he was warned never injecting that leg again he's like I want her to go back in my right leg mistake he went in his right leg again absess sat up one morning just to set up a little spot of blood got his jeans and I didn't know what it was. So he stood up and the archery had come apart and he died. And I don't think people realize like the dangers of growing injection.

[00:09:05]Injection is bad enough anyway.

[00:09:06]>> And do you ever get offered gentleman by dealers?

[00:09:08]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[00:09:10]Yeah. They come up to you all the time, try this, try this, try this.

[00:09:13]>> How would you describe I guess Andrea living on the streets of London?

[00:09:17]>> I've met some amazing people and you can't fool it. You'll never go hungry.

[00:09:22]But it's just the emotional and the mental strain that goes along with it is just not good.

[00:09:27]>> What would you say? I guess it's the worst memory of your whole life.

[00:09:30]>> Robert dying.

[00:09:33]That was that was bad blood in 7 seconds. But where this happened, it was Middle Sex Street. It's right in the city. Nobody would like let me use a phone. Nobody would take 10 seconds to call an ambulance. Happened just after 3:00 a.m. So it's early morning. People are rushing to go to work and nobody would stop to help. And tell you a little bit about Fentinel. It is very very easy to come by. It's all over the streets of London. I get offered it on a daily basis. I have people wanting it on a daily basis. Absolutely would not recommend you go near it. It killed at least nine people that I know. That was in November last year. It's like a permanent solution to a temporary problem. So, please stay away from it.

[00:10:18]In your life at the moment, what's considered a good day?

[00:10:20]>> I got 200 pound in my pocket. I got bit drugs and sunny day.

[00:10:24]>> What's a bad day for you?

[00:10:26]>> Bad day when it's pissing down rain.

[00:10:28]Stop bad fing rob you going to rob the shop. That's what that's somebody.

[00:10:40]>> Someone set a light in their sleeping bag.

[00:10:42]>> And who did that? Was it just normal?

[00:10:43]Just just know every day feel public.

[00:10:46]>> Guess is your health almost deteriorated?

[00:10:48]>> Yeah, I I got pneumonia about 4 months ago.

[00:10:51]>> Got pneumonia?

[00:10:52]>> Yeah.

[00:10:53]>> How would you say you're you're treated by the general public on the streets of London?

[00:10:57]>> Criminal time favorite or something.

[00:11:02]>> Do you ever stop much racist abuse on the streets?

[00:11:04]>> Oh, every day. That's nothing. Nothing.

[00:11:08]>> You get racist abused every day on the streets.

[00:11:11]>> Yeah. They say Britain is a lot of race to face the most wasting >> heartbreaking for your situation. Well, you seem like a very clean hearted person with just unfortunate circumstances.

[00:11:21]>> Sure. Don't get me wrong, I'm not I'm not a we are [ __ ] but I don't [ __ ] to survive. It's either that or you're not dead.

[00:11:31]>> Is it is there much loyalty on the streets? Is it okay? cold is cold.

[00:11:35]>> Certain people uh mainly about people my age know a bit more know a bit more morals about themselves and do certain things. Is there almost hierarchy on the streets? Like I'm I'm realizing especially ars and circus like certain pitches there four people and not anyone can just anyway can't just come and pitch.

[00:11:57]>> It's like almost like hierarchy like how long you've been on the streets the level of respect you got. Is that true?

[00:12:04]>> No. We're just doing a snitching.

[00:12:06]>> Keep it moving bro. Keep it moving bro.

[00:12:09]>> Keep it moving.

[00:12:10]>> Keep it moving.

[00:12:12]>> Keep it moving and go drink your drink, bro.

[00:12:14]>> Um Yeah, bro. And Jess, where would you reckon you'll be in the next 5 years?

[00:12:18]>> I'm pausing today's documentary to tell you about today's sponsor. You've probably seen the signs everywhere, but have you ever wondered why everyone knows that one name? There's a reason I always carry a second camera body on every shoot. It's because that I know when things go wrong, you can't just hope for the best. You need a backup plan that's just as powerful as your primary. It's the same logic why Morgan and Morgan is America's largest injury law firm. They provide the massive scale and resources you need when you're up against powerful institutions that have way more leverage than you do. For over 35 years, they've been for the people, recovering more than 30 billion for clients because they know a thing or two about fighting to get you the compensation you deserve. Hiring Morgan and Morgan is like hiring an army to go into battle. They've got more than 1,000 lawyers and 100 officers nationwide. And the best part is the fee is free unless they win. So if you're ever injured, you can go with a firm that everyone knows for a reason. You can check out Morgan andorggan at forthepeople.com/taboo to see if you have a claim. And now back to the documentary.

[00:13:17]To be honest, hopefully at my own place, I got very shocked and nick food sometimes just just to survive. These people won't do you a pound or even 50 p. Don't get me wrong, there's some there's some people out there that not really good. Seriously, the majority of people they won't give you the time of day. All right, my name is Jason Clark. I've been homeless since I was 17. now on and off in and out of prison. And to be honest, being on the streets are definitely right now cuz no one don't care. Not going to be good. But you do get some people that do help you. Those are the good people.

[00:14:00]>> Thank you.

[00:14:05]>> Well, how are you? I'm >> Paul, man.

[00:14:08]>> Paul, what's your name?

[00:14:10]>> Josh.

[00:14:10]>> Josh. And Josh, hand up. Have you been homeless on the streets of London?

[00:14:13]>> Uh, I've been homeless nearly nearly a year now.

[00:14:16]>> A year?

[00:14:17]>> Yeah. B last year.

[00:14:19]>> And how have you ended up homeless on street?

[00:14:21]>> I got sent to jail. So all I did is tried to grab her out of the flat.

[00:14:28]>> What you got to jail for?

[00:14:30]>> Uh, assault on her. It was literally I grabbed her arm and tried to drag her out of the flat and she sat down on the floor, pinned herself down on the hallway floor. Did they put up any addictions since you've been on the streets?

[00:14:42]>> Uh yeah. Yeah. H >> heroin. Yeah.

[00:14:46]>> Yeah.

[00:14:46]>> And how much would that cost in London to get a bag of heroin?

[00:14:49]>> Uh well you you're not knowing. So it's going to cost a minimum 20 quid.

[00:14:55]>> 20 quid. Yeah.

[00:14:56]>> Yeah.

[00:14:56]>> And I guess ridiculous. How bad has it got being on the streets?

[00:14:59]>> Uh yeah worse because I have nothing to do here. I got a hole in my leg. You >> got a hole in your neck. Can I see it?

[00:15:08]But yeah, heck is over there. They will not see me. Look, >> it's not good, man. Look.

[00:15:20]>> Yeah. And and the hospital still don't see me. They know I've got this. I've been there twice, three times in the last three days.

[00:15:27]>> How's that happen?

[00:15:29]>> That's happened in London this time. You know what I mean?

[00:15:35]I'm in tears sometimes. Right.

[00:15:40]Let's take a piss, man.

[00:15:41]>> Sorry if I get to. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:15:43]>> I'd love that. Thank you.

[00:15:45]>> You go.

[00:15:46]>> Oh, you're a gentleman. No worries, mate.

[00:15:48]>> Thank you. Have a good day. Thank you very much. Thank you.

[00:15:58]>> I don't fight.

[00:16:00]I don't need a fight. I put them hang me. I got knife crime on my side. So keep riding the bus and threatening me over. Do I got valid ID when I got money? Scrub a dance tomorrow. I want you to know there's people like you that will stop going in a brain talking about you a bus driver.

[00:16:20]>> You're up, bro. How are you?

[00:16:22]>> I'm I'm all right. I'm lying.

[00:16:25]>> What's your name, bro?

[00:16:27]>> So So how have you ended up I guess homeless? Um well the first time I call basically I was in caring that when I was young and then like things were just chaotic and then I at first time I run away from some places so I kind of moved myself home when I was I was young so they still that took me back and then I was in jail for years. What was it like being in care?

[00:16:46]>> Some places were all right in it, but most of them were pretty. Obviously, I'm young in it, so being lonely, getting moved about certain people, they didn't give it. They didn't care. One of them I remember they they didn't even give me no food, nothing. And she made me a sandwich like once a day. You mean I'm like I'm like 15 years old or like just turning 16, I think. I didn't want to stay there. And I'm leaving there. And then um I didn't tell no one. I slept I slept on the streets that night. No blanket, nothing. just s on some grass on some little round I don't remember exactly woke up with a dare you know them little munch days in the country little aliens woke up with that I I was in jail that's it I was in the afterare with the afterare team social services and um then my social worker come see me um and I basically said they cut off support when I was in jail we found visible in jail >> what was you in jail for >> um the first time robberies assault like a lot of different things mainly we got like situations that got out of hand fights whatever holding And then I guess how how have you ended up on the streets? How did that happen? What was >> the the first time I I ended up homeless? Um basically I was I was with some girl and that happened with the um them like cutting off. They gave me emergency B&B not staying there. I'm all depressed trying to speak with my family. I just cut my job instead of me positive trying to get I've been depressed and just kind of locked off from my friends. Oh, so I was far from them and [ __ ] just went downhill further and further and then I went started smoking just from there and then I've hidden away from my friends, family that I got clean for like 5 years and then I relapsed.

[00:18:20]>> So what are you on at the moment?

[00:18:22]>> Car um well I'm I'm I'm trying to get clean I'm in a script but um I messed up with that but it's difficult to >> and what I'm hearing. Yeah. So at the moment K it's becoming common knowledge that fentinel is on the streets of London now.

[00:18:41]>> Yeah. Yeah. Obviously you must have heard about in America now but it's is that's obviously that's what's one of the things that made it more difficult for me to get clean.

[00:18:49]>> Yeah. Cuz mixing that taking that obviously it's like it's different is it? It's like if you it's like um I guess it's probably like weed and spice. Yeah.

[00:18:59]>> Cuz I've done a few interviews so far already and everyone's saying to me people are dying from fentinel.

[00:19:04]>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I've heard I've known people that have died like that actually known them and heard and heard as like been told oh this person's died.

[00:19:11]>> Is it becoming a problem would you say in London?

[00:19:14]>> Yeah, I guess so. As much as as much as cracking error is already a problem and class everything it brings but I think this is more a problem for the addicts.

[00:19:24]You might go to someone and buy to buy her and you'll get given fent you might go give more even.

[00:19:30]>> So these days it's a case if you really don't know what you're buying.

[00:19:33]>> Yeah. You don't have any idea where you venue.

[00:19:36]>> Car on the streets of London since you've been on the streets of London.

[00:19:39]What would you say is the craziest thing or the worst thing that you've witnessed?

[00:19:42]>> A couple times we woke up next to their bodies near like near us. Yeah. I remember one night we woke up in the morning the guy's been dead for hours.

[00:19:50]Like most of the night I'm pretty sure like this guy's been dead. We didn't even realize the guy's partner tried to wake him up. Oh, she's destitive.

[00:20:05]>> So, I guess what was the first night like or how did you end up working becoming homeless?

[00:20:10]>> Uh, now I'm not working. Before I'm working uh like builder I have a like a kitchen and chef in the kitchen going up as a chef.

[00:20:19]>> Yeah. Uh after I'm lose job because I'm going in prison.

[00:20:23]>> What you going to prison for? for they found the drugs, you know.

[00:20:26]>> They found drugs. What drugs?

[00:20:27]>> Yeah.

[00:20:30]>> Amphetamine.

[00:20:30]>> Yeah.

[00:20:31]>> And was you selling that?

[00:20:32]>> No. No. They get funded, you know.

[00:20:34]>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And so, do you So, do you know sleeping here? How what's it like?

[00:20:40]>> I don't like that one. Yeah.

[00:20:41]>> You don't like Yeah.

[00:20:42]>> And do you get many people doing anything to your tent when you're sleeping?

[00:20:45]>> Yeah.

[00:20:48]>> Tottenham Court Road where the retailers deal in high-end home furnishings. But on the pavements outside are canvas homes furnished with other people's rubbish. The government plans to introduce a bill that could see rough sleepers fined or even jailed if they are deemed to be a nuisance to other people.

[00:21:08]>> Would you say it's hard being on the street? Yeah. What? What's so hard?

[00:21:11]>> Because hard. You all must be I not ask people for their money like that.

[00:21:15]Probably for the food sometimes, you know. If you ask like that one.

[00:21:19]>> And have you picked up any addictions, Dar, since you've been on the streets?

[00:21:22]No.

[00:21:23]>> No addictions. No. Well done, brother.

[00:21:25]>> And how long have you been here?

[00:21:26]>> Four months. Four, five months. Yeah.

[00:21:28]>> This tent's been here for months. Yeah.

[00:21:29]Is this all yours? Yeah.

[00:21:30]>> Yeah.

[00:21:32]>> Is this everything that you own?

[00:21:34]>> I found it in the street. Someone called you. I found it in the street.

[00:21:36]>> You found this all this in the street?

[00:21:38]>> Yeah. That is it. Okay. If I have a look in in the tent, water this stuff.

[00:21:52]And this is everything.

[00:21:53]>> Everything. Yeah.

[00:21:54]>> That's crazy, bro.

[00:21:55]>> I know. It's crazy, you know. But uh very hard to rain here because it's this.

[00:22:00]>> [ __ ] hell, bro. That's tight. This tiny as well. Small.

[00:22:03]>> Small. It's freezing. Last for this we were last week. It's very freezing.

[00:22:06]>> Cold. Yeah.

[00:22:07]>> Yeah.

[00:22:10]>> Well, bro, I hope your situation changes, man.

[00:22:12]>> Some people have different story, you know, for their life. It's for the love, friends, family.

[00:22:19]>> I've been about let's say 20 years. 20 years.

[00:22:22]>> Yeah. But I've been in this country over 30 years. You know, I used to be I used to be a manager of security guard as a bouncer for about 20 years. You >> was a bouncer for 20 years.

[00:22:32]>> I used to be about, you know, I used to work all over in London, even in Birmingham, outside of London, everywhere. I used to be, you know, well known as a as a bouncer, you know. Very.

[00:22:40]>> And Franchesco, if you had one wish, what would that be?

[00:22:44]>> My wish every day the same, you know. Uh I want to help people. And Franchesco, I guess, where will you be sleeping this evening?

[00:22:52]>> Whatever God lead me, whatever the Lord lead me, I will follow them. I will follow them.

[00:23:28]Heat. Heat.

[00:23:46]Welcome to Camden Town.

[00:23:55]Should I just change my tune on my phone? I messed about now.

[00:24:03]You need Jesus.

[00:24:09]Hi.

[00:24:10]>> How long have you been homeless?

[00:24:11]>> Since 2010.

[00:24:14]>> 2010.

[00:24:15]>> Been homeless for 13 years.

[00:24:16]>> Yeah. And then I got a house 2014 doing an affair and I'm homeless ever since.

[00:24:22]>> And what's it like being homeless on the streets of London? Oh god.

[00:24:27]>> Take a good look. Do I look well?

[00:24:35]>> And what's a day in the life for a few at the moment?

[00:24:39]>> They won't let me wash nothing.

[00:24:42]>> Remember the last time we had a wash?

[00:24:43]>> They sent me some women over the well in King's Cross. They throw me around the bathroom and they leave my hat. They wash me all the time.

[00:25:00]I'm not scared.

[00:25:02]>> Have you picked up any addictions as well?

[00:25:04]>> I'm just smoking cigarettes cuz no one gives me food when I get money. I'm trying to buy clothes. They won't let me buy clothes cuz I just have to drink, smoke, and bike.

[00:25:16]>> The boys are actually business being home with this woman.

[00:25:19]>> Yeah, it does a lot of that. But I'm not doing that. But I have been forced to do that when they take over. You dance, rip clothes, cook.

[00:25:28]>> Do you mean and then they're over you and they dribble?

[00:25:32]>> Do you mean what they do?

[00:25:35]>> Real life.

[00:25:38]>> Even on the man will touch the attached.

[00:25:50]Yeah.

[00:25:52]When Shelton >> shouting, did you say you've been raped?

[00:25:59]>> Yeah.

[00:26:00]>> On the streets of London.

[00:26:03]>> You okay? Are you sure?

[00:26:11]>> Yeah. I don't feel