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

jubileedebt.org.uk/news/the-police-crime-sentencing-and-courts-bill

@Wiltshire90

We must live in polar opposite parts of the uk. As my city has 12 emergency beds. Not enough. We also dont have anyone begging who is housed......or gets benefits. Hence why they’re homeless

Lots do have drug or alcohol addictions. It of course they will. It goes with the territory.

In the 30 years our shelter has been opened. We’ve only kicked out 10 people. We’re also a shelter that is for people deeply entrenched in drug addictions.

I’m not sure where you’re from. It polar opposite to our 5 shelters here.

@Hubstar I’d love to be able to help the homeless guy I talk too, he is so sweet he even tried to give me some of his food once because he’d been given loads. I think he flys under the radar because we are a very small town, he has been housed before but he was thrown out due to his behaviour (he told me) and now he has 3 huge dogs no one will help him. Although he told me he was in a hotel with the dogs during the first lockdown so some help is coming from somewhere?

We ought to be able to feel safe when se go out. Not merely probably safe from serious attack.
We should be safe from abuse or threats.
We should not have to 'be careful' how we shop or go to a railway station.

That's all very well and lovely being part of a street team where you volunteer your time are trained supported not alone etc etc but to have some man demand money from you unaware s is frightening.

Unless the person is begging in the shop what can security do?
There are a couple of beggers in our area but I don't give directly to them as I know some aren't actually poor or homeless. They have never been aggressive though and don't approach people. My main thought is how awful people still have to resort to begging in 2021!

@nixonten

We ought to be able to feel safe when se go out. Not merely probably safe from serious attack. We should be safe from abuse or threats. We should not have to 'be careful' how we shop or go to a railway station.

Everyone should feel safe. How safe does a woman living on the streets feel?

@Tara336. PM me

There are a lot of beggars shipped into our local city. They arent homeless and there was a huge spike in beggers in 2019. As some of them are career beggars or possibly trafficked I dont give any money to anyone on the streets unless I recognise them as the very few genuine homeless ( because of drugs and mental health issues mainly. They have a local shelter but for various reasons they are genuinely unable to use it).

So professionals beggars means I dont hand out cash. Its better off going to the homeless shelter or on the faces you still sitting there at night, not the ones doing a 9-5 shift. Also you have to be happy that cash will go directly to them buying drugs. Not everyone is.

Anyway who carries cash anymore?

A lot of the beggars are trafficed illegal immigrants, worked by gangmasters who abuse them and that the money given by naiive dupes. You can call immigration services and they can help the poor exploited enslaved individuals.

[quote Cloudyview]**@Littlefluffyclouds13
“Jesus Christ, listen to yourself will you?”
“You're everything that is wrong with society.”
“The people you are talking about are human beings, just like you.”

Nobody should feel threatened when they are going about their daily business, shopping etc.! The best way to help those genuinely in need (and we don’t know if these beggars are genuine or not) is to lobby the Government or give to the relevant charities so they can be helped in the best way possible.

I have never understood why taking in more immigrants and asylum seekers happens, while there are homeless people here already who need food and housing! Deal with the current problems first before adding to it![/quote]
'Taking in more migrants and asylum seekers'
Omfg, wake up please!! Jeez.

Do you actually know what the term asylum seeker means?
Thank your lucky stars you are fortunate enough not to be one, in a world where people like you think we shouldn't offer a person in danger from another country refuge because we're 'full'
Guess what? We're not full, or do you just source your opinions/information from the gutter press?

I'm sorry to say my compassion for the homeless disappeared when the amount of abuse I've received working in a fast food restaurant. Genuine or not the abuse I've had is unreal. I've had hot drinks thrown at me, followed from work, yelled at, screamed at when I cant give them free food. I dont want anyone to suffer but after 4 years I find it hard.to be compassionate. So no op yanbu

A lot of our local ones are, I’m sure, run by gangmasters. They’re virtually all from abroad, they all have placards saying exactly the same thing, and all repeat the same few words.

For several years there was a home grown beggar with a dog always outside M&S. I would regularly give him something - until he was eventually exposed in the local paper as having a flat (owned, not rented) and a hefty sum in the bank.

Nowadays I support three homeless charities but don’t give to anyone on the street any more. I do feel sorry for those run by gangmasters, but I’m not going to put money into criminal pockets. Some years ago there was a TV documentary about Romanian gangmasters (presented by a Romanian) who pointed out some of their palatial villas in Bucharest.

@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.

All councils will have this but not everyone will think to look at the council website for information.

Surely during lockdown, homeless people were accommodated in hotels and social services and well intentioned volunteers will have been drafted in to help. I know where i live a number of former homeless people have been helped into supported accommodation and the slow process into a more fulfilling life due to this. Some simply dont want to engage.

@blvdbrokendreams

I'm sorry to say my compassion for the homeless disappeared when the amount of abuse I've received working in a fast food restaurant. Genuine or not the abuse I've had is unreal. I've had hot drinks thrown at me, followed from work, yelled at, screamed at when I cant give them free food. I dont want anyone to suffer but after 4 years I find it hard.to be compassionate. So no op yanbu

Mine disappeared with some of the utterly SHIT bastard twat neighbours we've had. IME some people deserve to be on the street because they can't live in a dwelling around others without making those peoples' lives utter hell.

What about all the people subjected to constant blaring music, loud nightly parties, violence, fighting and intimidation because those tenants 'deserved a chance'? Then you can't oust them out for love or money.

It's shit.

I was on the Kings Rd a eeek or so ago. A chap asked for some food so I offered to buy him a sandwich from the nearby Tesco Metro. He said "no, I want a kebab with chips and a Diet Coke", at which point I walked off. This sounds like BS but it really isn't.

People always suggest buying them food. What if they don't want to eat?

@roarfeckingroarr

I was on the Kings Rd a eeek or so ago. A chap asked for some food so I offered to buy him a sandwich from the nearby Tesco Metro. He said "no, I want a kebab with chips and a Diet Coke", at which point I walked off. This sounds like BS but it really isn't.

What’s wrong with wanting what he actually wants to eat?

@OwlBeThere I don't have a spare £11. I do have a spare £3 for a meal deal. Plus o was alone with my small baby and frankly felt like it was bloody rude.

Hopefully the last of Roma from Eastern Europe will be UK citizens now, and will receive the help and support they need.
I think agencies are seeing the bigger picture now and instead of inprisoning petty criminals who are so because they were promised a job that didn't materialise, are supporting them into work, study, benefits and accomodation.
So many were promised jobs usually car washing, massage parlour or other cheap labour cash in hand.
A lot of Eastern European Roma went home at the beginning of the pandemic, to be treated far worse than here, but that's a different thread.

What’s wrong with wanting what he actually wants to eat?

FFS, the cost of a sandwich from Tesco v. a fecking chippy kebab?! Rude AF. Don't want it, just 'No, thanks.'

@AlternativePerspective

The "gangs" are likely doing it to get money for whomever they owe money - including in return for a "home", they will be being threatened and physically abused into doing it, some even killed. The "people" operating such gangs will think nothing of stabbing someone who doesn't "earn enough". Our police refuse to do a thing to help these people. Not their job apparently. Yet they'll frequently put up posters on social media about human slavery and being able to help - clearly not. someone on a group I’m on recently trotted out this one to justify why the HMRC/banking/Microsoft/ scammers do what they do as well. Sorry, that’s not good enough. The gang masters are responsible for the situation they are in, not the people who say no and are threatened for doing so.

And the more people trot out this kind of crap the less time I have for the people they’re justifying.

It's not crap. It's reality. And Im justifying nothing.

You think desperate people should just die instead, fine. Say that.

@katrina11

The reason that the homeless often want cash is because many shelters require payment and if it's cold and/or wet people are desperate to get into the warm. Councils are extremely good at spending on adverts saying 'don't give money' but not as good at providing the shelter people need.

A common misconception. I work in the sector and hostels here and in pretty much every other city don't ask for money upfront at all. Housing benefit pays and there is usually a small service charge which is not asked for in the first day. Those here with such signs get quite cross when I direct them to my place of work and ask where on are they staying that asks for an upfront payment..