Rough sleepers in Belfast have been moved out of the city centre during this week’s Fleadh Cheoil festival, according to a homeless charity.The People’s Kitchen, the city’s only drop-in food centre for homeless people, raised the issue with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) following claims that officers were threatening to arrest vulnerable people attempting to sleep in the Fleadh zone.An additional 20 overnight beds have also been provided by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the main statutory body for housing in the North, during the festival.More than 800,000 people are expected to have visited the city for Fleadh by Sunday, when it ends.It is the first time Belfasthas hosted the event.“When people are being pushed away and moved to other locations outside the city, our worry is trying to locate them. That’s what we’ve been doing over the last couple of days,” said Paul McCusker, founder of The People’s Kitchen and Independent councillor in Belfast city.“Some people known to us have told us the police have said they must stay away from the city centre until midnight this week.”There are currently about “70-plus” rough sleepers in the city each night, according to McCusker.[ Why unionists went to the Belfast Fleadh and liked itOpens in new window ]“I can’t even find words to describe how bad the situation has become,” he said. “People aren’t just homeless, there’s addiction and mental health as well.”He added that there had been five overdoses on the streets since the Fleadh started last Sunday.Volunteers with another homeless support organisation have received similar reports about the “displacement” of rough sleepers.“We had a service user who told us that police said if they so much as put their sleeping bag on the ground or sat on it, they would be arrested,” said Julie Kelly of Belfast-based Team Haven. “A lot of people seem to be heading to the south of the city.”Team Haven was forced to temporarily relocate its service from the city centre where it provides hot food six nights a week.“We were inside the boundary of where the road closures are for the Fleadh,” said Kelly.Their volunteers have been working out of the car park at The People’s Kitchen.While welcoming the extra bed provision in the city, McCusker criticised the lack of planning for the homeless community in the year-long build-up to the event.“Our first joint briefing with the different agencies was nine days before the Fleadh and we felt they weren’t listening to our concerns,” he said.“They have stepped up to increase bed spaces and the Housing Executive is out again with us today to pick up any rough sleepers who need referrals. “If they can do it this week, why not do it all year round?” In a statement, the Housing Executive said a drop-in service was available for anyone experiencing homelessness during the Fleadh.“We will always ensure we meet our statutory duty, working with providers to source additional temporary accommodation capacity,” it said.“In addition to our usual range of temporary accommodations, including voluntary sector hostels, single-lets and non-standard options, we have added an additional 20 bed spaces to our overnight provision.”The PSNI said in a statement that as with any large-scale event, officers will be present.“We will continue to work with partner agencies throughout the event period to help ensure appropriate safeguarding arrangements are in place for vulnerable people,” it said.