Homeless people at Sydney’s Central station have belongings removed with advocates condemning ‘heavy-handed’ tactics

Majority of rough sleepers using site near light rail stop are women, who find it safer due to CCTV cameras and public location

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Kylie Emery returned from a shower on Thursday morning to find her shopping trolley full of belongings was gone. It contained everything she has to her name: a sleeping bag, warm clothes, her credit card.

Emery is among about two dozen people who have been sleeping rough at Sydney’s Central station, some for several years, in a sheltered spot near the light rail stop. The majority are women, who find the site safe because of its CCTV cameras and public location.