Begging outside shops etc, should be stopped?

[Bookingsmamas]

Shouldn’t these places have their security move these people on? It’s absolutely getting ridiculous now. I’ve seen a steady increase of these men begging for cash, they’re homeless, etc etc.

I have 0 issue with someone sitting outside somewhere asking for money. But they aren’t doing that, they’re going up to cars, people walking by. And now tapping on my bloody car. Twice since going to our local Aldi, someone has tapped?! On my car when I’ve tried to ignore them politely.

It just feels very intrusive. AIBU to think security should be stopping them or encouraging them to move along? Our local shopping centre is excellent and moving these people straight on

@takealettermsjones

If you feel "very threatened" by someone asking for money I presume you also feel threatened by charity collectors, poppy sellers, market traders... You're welcome to say no. Obviously if there is some other behaviour that is actually threatening that's different, but if it's just the fact that they are homeless that is threatening to you, I'd suggest it might be more your own prejudice than anything.

Don’t be ridiculous. OP specifically said she wouldn’t mind if they were just outside the shop - it’s the people who approach her, tap on her car, tut at her. I agree with you OP. Thin line between a man approaching a woman slightly aggressively looking for money and actually intimidating or even assaulting them. And most people who ask for money know this very well! Most charities advise against giving cash to people who beg. I’m more than happy to buy a stranger on the street a sandwich but nothing else.

The vast majority of them are scammers. Professionals Who beg for a living, either for themselves or as part of a gang.

@ChorltonWheelie

Blimey, where is your compassion OP, do you think they want to be there? Perhaps you'd like it if security rounded them up and made them do tasks that benefit the community - though not near you of course.

This can't be real can it?

My compassion stops when they are not genuinely homeless....these are criminal gangs.

In a town local to me there was a gentleman begging daily with a big placard about how he is an ex veteran, sold his medals for money, he and his whippet both starve (although the whippet always looked in really good shape to me). He started off harmlessly begging for change, then started harassing people as they took money out of the ATM, eventually moving his “sleeping spot” to literally in front of the only ATM for miles, so you have to bend over him to do anything. He was really off putting and it got to the point where the police were involved.
I was in town one day and saw him have a massive altercation with the police about it, being told to move on etc. He was then told to register with X homeless charity local to the town and taken there by the officers. I witnessed as he was half dragged there against his will, the woman answered and I heard her say “he’s not homeless, just a liar.” I didn’t see what happened after as my business associate arrived.
Later it transpired he had a job and a perfectly nice house, but realised he could make more money from begging. The guy had a decent Audi on the drive of his fairly large sized house, all paid for totally by begging. Even worse, he was seen in another town buying a brand new Mercedes and paying IN CASH!
The medals he had sold? Faked. The service he had provided? Lies.
Eventually he was convicted of fraud.
I am so so wary of the homeless now after that.

Yanbu OP.

I'm quite taken with the idea though that there's people out there who think that a rough sleeping crack addict hassling money for a fix is some kind of proto Captain Tom poppy seller. Bless.

Offer to buy people a drink and a sandwich. Those who are in need will take you up on it. Those needing money to fund a habit will not.

It’s bloody patronising to just tell OP she must hate poor people and why doesn’t she just buy them a sandwich. Don’t romanticise the very real social problems that lead people to beg. They are not all honest ruffians that are a bit down on their luck and would be grateful for a hot pie. This is not a Charles Dickens novel. There is no need to berate OP or anyone for being wary of being asked for money in an aggressive manner when she’s simply going about her business.

People who beg aren't always homeless. Each council should have some sort of reporting strategy to report anyone who you feel is a rough sleeper.
Most aren't homeless but are drug or alcohol dependant and need to beg for that rather than being homeless.

Yanbu

@GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing

Well yes, I agree that there’s a lot wrong with society that allows people to be in such desperate circumstances!

But also, it is very intimidating when someone comes up to your car, especially as a woman.

But the root cause needs to be tackled rather than simply moving people on. It’s probably not effective for shops to try this.

I can see why they end up continuing, why does everyone think these people are genuinely homeless - THEY'RE NOT HOMELESS.

They are harassing people, often older people and women to extort money. They are criminal gangs.

@SuziQuatrosFatNan

Yanbu OP.

I'm quite taken with the idea though that there's people out there who think that a rough sleeping crack addict hassling money for a fix is some kind of proto Captain Tom poppy seller. Bless.

Yeah, but we need to remember it's our fault somehow, while they hammer on the car window and just cough up some cash

Yanbu. This has ruined San Francisco for me. The last time I was there I was followed into a restaurant by a panhandler I had ignored on the way in. The owner of the restaurant apologized but said that the police and the city would do nothing to stop it.

During the same trip I had someone playing African drums for money on the sidewalk underneath my hotel room window until midnight.

@TheVolturi

Our local aldi has someone sat next to the trolleys all the time. It's very awkward as it's only a little area. I don't think it should be allowed in these circumstances as it can feel threatening to some people when you are asked outright for money.

Try living on the streets and see how threatening that feels.

As an idealistic youngster I would always give money. That was until I got told to "fuck off" for offering to buy a coffee or some food (it was a cold day and I had no cash on me). Previously I had given him a few pounds on my way to work every morning.

Something needs to be done about people living on the streets, they do deserve help but I don't think that help should be in cash donations from the public.

The supermarkets should do something because, regardless of the reason (geniune or fake), harassment that they are aware of should be stopped on their land. They have a duty of care to their customers.

I live outer suburbs of city centre. There are a few genuine homeless in tents and few van dwellers .
Theres also many hostels drugs and alcohol in our area .
We have many supermarket all same rd small sainsbury coop lilds morrisions and aldi and there's beggers out side each one and many are known addicts living in hostels so they just want money.
Then when they drunk they sit in the park causing trouble near children's play area.
Some are quite aggressive.
Weirdest was lady who did not appear speak good English as me to buy her a 3.99 cheese from aldi when actually it was lilds cheese.
I wonder if she was part of Romanian gang where they force women and kids to beg then keep the money.
Since covid mostly use card and trolley key for trolley so don't always have change.
The many I see in city centre so seem more genuinely homeless.

Oh give over, I love how so many commenters here seem to think these are les miserables poor unfortunate souls desperate for a scrap to eat. Drug addiction can make people desperate and dangerous and being approached as a woman on your own can be scary and intimidating. I’m sure the OP would be happy to solve the entire country’s homeless person by giving them her change if she could - but surprise surprise it won’t.

@Fairyfalls

People who beg aren't always homeless. Each council should have some sort of reporting strategy to report anyone who you feel is a rough sleeper. Most aren't homeless but are drug or alcohol dependant and need to beg for that rather than being homeless.

Or maybe the only way they can deal with sleeping on the streets is through using alcohol and drugs? Many people resort to drug use to manage their stress levels - cigarettes, gin, beer, anti depressants. But we don’t judge them do we.

Despite the heavy-handed virtual signalling in this thread, the majority agrees with OP.

Some of the comments in this post are absolutely horrendous. So what if 1 in 10 people begging is a scammer. What about the other 9? Are they not human beings? Maybe it does feel uncomfortable when you’re leaving the supermarket with £100 worth of shopping to be faced with someone begging for a few coins. What’s the alternative? Should we do what they do in some countries and break out the water cannon to wash them off the streets and back into the gutter? Should we only ‘be kind’ to the right sort of people?
Shame on you all.

Even worse, he was seen in another town buying a brand new Mercedes and paying IN CASH!

Do Mercedes accept payment for a £20k+ car in cash? Wouldn't that raise financial crime concerns?

To be clear I wasn't berating the OP. I was just saying that asking for money in itself isn't threatening; homeless people in themselves aren't threatening. Of course there are always exceptions, there are disingenuous people, there are liars, etc.

I have experienced those who are happy to be bought food, those who say no to food but ask if they can have cigarettes, and those who are rude and refuse. But I don't take that minority who are rude and apply their traits to everyone in that situation.

Someone saying they are not homeless, they are gangs: ok sure, some might be. But we can't always know the difference.

There are genuine homeless people who ask for money. In my city people die on the streets each winter. I think that way of living is terrifying and far more so than having to say no to someone asking for money once a week or so. I might not have all the information but I don't think I'm ridiculous for having a viewpoint on it.

@Littlefluffyclouds13

I’d feel nervous if someone was knocking on
My window looking for cash. And if they have a shit attitude if you say no then those people stop you wanting to give money to anyone begging.
Who I chose to give money to is up to me, and if I chose not to give money on the street that’s my choice. Doesn’t mean I am a problem to society for not supporting these people surely?
That’s a bit of an over reaction I think 🤔

Even worse, he was seen in another town buying a brand new Mercedes and paying IN CASH!

Do Mercedes accept payment for a £20k+ car in cash? Wouldn't that raise financial crime concerns?

@mainsfed

Even worse, he was seen in another town buying a brand new Mercedes and paying IN CASH!

Do Mercedes accept payment for a £20k+ car in cash? Wouldn't that raise financial crime concerns?

No idea, I didn’t see it myself but it was reported in the local paper as such.