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

I do get what OP is saying. A few months ago I was doing a big shop in a town I didn't know with 2 of my children to attend appointments. We stopped in the Sainsbury's there to grab some lunch and a guys was asking for change. We got an extra meal deal (sarnie, water and snack thing) and gave it to him outside.
We ate ours in the car and saw him about 10 mins later throw it behind him.
He then proceeded to continue asking for cash.

More and more people particularly young men are living in tents, some with full-time jobs and there will be a lot more once the eviction freeze is up after Covid19.
They aren't addicts the rising rents and lack of jobs outside the busy counties are creating the working homeless.

@Devlesko

Don't worry OP, your prayers will be answered with the new Police Bill, all those pesky homeless people will be illegal. There's a novel idea from Pretti racist Patel, make being homeless illegal. You couldn't make it up. I hope you can sleep at night, but people so out of touch usually can.

What's in this new bill?

It’s nice you work with all these heart of gold homeless. But let’s face it, someone on drugs is not always going to be that nice.

There is a local homeless man here - no problem - he is harmless apart from the fact that he sits feeding the rats . But in the next town there is a group who hang around car parks and - sorry for being such a feminine wuss here - I don’t like being accosted for money in a lonely stairwell.

@IrmaFayLear

Do you think beggars have the right to aggressively ask people for money, Devlesko? Where is the line between any man being aggressive towards a woman, and a man on the streets being aggressive? Are we allowed to be afraid of one but have to accept the other?

When society fails to help vulnerable people, you don't fear them, you help. wtf are you scared of, a bit of swearing and cursing from their frustration. I give money and food, because I think if I was homeless on the streets I'd need alcohol or drugs to survive, I think most would.

Don't worry OP, your prayers will be answered with the new Police Bill, all those pesky homeless people will be illegal.
There's a novel idea from Pretti racist Patel, make being homeless illegal. 
You couldn't make it up. 
I hope you can sleep at night, but people so out of touch usually can

What a really stupid thing to say. Why should the op not be able to sleep at night? She's not responsible for the situation. Perhaps it's more she's not "womaning" properly unless she's wringing her hands and crying about people she's doesn't know and isn't responsible for.

Come back when you've offered one of these folk your spare room or started volunteering your time and money to the cause.

The guilt heaped onto the op is ridiculous.

@TrendingHistory

I completely agree with you OP. It can be very intimidating as a woman to be approached by a strange man who often is drunk or high on drugs. I’m sure someone will accuse me of making generalizations but I live in Westminster and the number of beggars who are also drug addicts is enormous.

There have been a number of very violent fights between the beggars recently. It really is a frightening environment for a lone female.

There are

But there aren’t enough resources. There isn’t enough money. There isn’t enough people willing to work or help or volunteer

There just isn’t enough sadly for the charities to even make a dent.

@80sPadme

I do get what OP is saying. A few months ago I was doing a big shop in a town I didn't know with 2 of my children to attend appointments. We stopped in the Sainsbury's there to grab some lunch and a guys was asking for change. We got an extra meal deal (sarnie, water and snack thing) and gave it to him outside. We ate ours in the car and saw him about 10 mins later throw it behind him. He then proceeded to continue asking for cash.

Small not big 🙄

I stopped using my nearest post office at xmas as there were 2 people begging outside stood either side of the path and they would come at you together from both angles when you went past or came out the shop. Made me feel so uncomfortable.

wtf are you scared of, a bit of swearing and cursing from their frustration.

Yeah women, how silly of you to be scared by a man following you and shouting that you're a cunt who deserves to be taken out.

wtf are you scared of, a bit of swearing and cursing

Yes, actually. Not so much if someone is sitting down, but being followed? You bet I’m scared.

I work with the homeless I'm not against them but these 2 (I'm pretty sure) are not homeless, just addicts.

I love all the outrage, even the homeless charities advise not to give cash. Most people begging are not homeless, but being "run" by criminal gangs

Imagine women being intimidated by swearing aggressive men they met in a car parkhow weak they are we should offer them a hug and a tenner poor mites!

OP is getting an absolutely beating for this but I don't think those actually know happy to slag her off understand much about begging.

All homeless are offered and provided emergency shelter by my local council (which is free and doesnt need to be paid for). They're all offered job seekers and other benefits. There are numerous opportunities for food and charity the official way.

I have spent many years working with the homeless and all the ones I've seen begging are housed and have benefits. They also have drug habits.

The reasons they are begging are because their behaviour is too poor to stay in the shelter and be housed (violence, drug dealing) and because they can't stick to the rules of claiming benefits. And because the benefits aren't enough for their drug/drink habits. The money you give a beggar goes back into a cycle of abuse and gang violence.

I don't say this from lack of compassion, I say this from experience. I think some of you have a very privileged existence to not understand the realities of street begging. True homeless tend to stay out of the way of these people in shelters, a friend's sofabed, or in a tent in the woods.

WTF? What are you afraid of etc?! Why the hell should anyone have to put up with being abused in any capacity and think oh well their life is worse so fair play?? Ignore idiots with that mentality, op

The Tories have imposed massive cuts in local homeless services - £1 billion a year over the last decade. New Labour reduced the numbers of homeless people massively, while that’s now all been undone of course. “Moving people on” from one spot to another to another isn’t really much of a solution.

@EmeraldShamrock

More and more people particularly young men are living in tents, some with full-time jobs and there will be a lot more once the eviction freeze is up after Covid19. They aren't addicts the rising rents and lack of jobs outside the busy counties are creating the working homeless.

That’s why I said in my post. Always ask if they’d like food. Even if they don’t. Or say they are all good. This means you’ve asked. They’ve said no. So if they then ask for cash. You know it’s not for food

Though for example the homeless beds here. Are £25 a night ironically. So some people spend all day trying to get that so they have a dry safe place to sleep.

I've given to homeless people and bought the Big Issue. But the problem is that it doesn't tackle the real issue of funding. The more the community gives, the less the government does.

I've given to people genuinely in need. But I've also been duped by a known gang leader. He is a despicable human being who prays off the genuine homeless people and lives in a nicer town than me! I would never do it again.

Ask any recovered addict if giving money to beggars is good- they will resoundingly say no.
And these will be people who were themselves homeless.
It is a complex situation- when Covid hit, local hotels were wrecked, and people, by choice went back to living in tents.
There is zero responsibility living like this, no one questions you or asks anything of you.
No rent to pay, or bills, and yet there are very few real friends on the streets.
I think the answer is to raise loved children, away from the care system- if every child was nurtured,homelessness and anger with the world would be far less.

I hear you, Op. It is very concerning.

DH comes from a country where homeless people 'look after' your car while you nip to the shop. Some get very aggressive if you don't give them any money. It's really intimidating.

I do think we need to solve this before it becomes a real problem. The people on this thread who are saying that you are being heartless probably haven't experienced intimidating beggars.

@osbertthesyrianhamster

Believe it or not homelessness is going to be a crime as trespass is to be illegal.
Any land you personally don't own you aren't allowed to reside, even over night.
There's going to be a lot of criminals once this bill goes through. It hasn't been thought out and was first initiated through the back door in Nov 2019.
Lot's of organisations and agencies are asking the gov to rethink this ridiculous plan.
The chief of Police doesn't want the extra powers they will be given, and he said when his officers are required to move people on, he'll tell them to ask "to where" Atm, it seems to be the next authority, who will move to another and so on.

@Mrsjayy

Imagine women being intimidated by swearing aggressive men they met in a car parkhow weak they are we should offer them a hug and a tenner poor mites!

I keep seeing this. It’s really rare and tends to happen in London. I live in a big major city. All of the homeless here are homeless. I’m part of the street team. So we go out and speak to the new ones and tell them of their rights and the help we can provide.

I’ve never once met someone from a gang. Not once in over 10 years. Ŵe verify it and work closely with the police on the issue

I'm my local area when covid began they got all the homeless off the streets and into accommodation they sorted benefits and were finding them permanent homes a fair few ended up back on the streets after trashing there accommodation they still tried to get them permanent homes they didn't pay the rent and left

Not all homeless people are like this but the ones back on the street right now? Seem to be

Take a look at this.
You will need to look at the individual organisations to see what they object to, but it's basically making being homeless a crime, and through policy making more people homeless with racial discrimination (travellers). If you look carefully you'll see the greater implications of this new bill.