COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

Beggars are making up to £200 a day on the streets of Leamington claim charity chiefs



Helping Hands – which supports rough sleepers and vulnerable people across the district – say much of the money is then spent fuelling drug and alcohol addictions.

Chairwoman Lianne Kirkman is urging people to instead give money to charities which help support people to kick addictions and find a home.

She told the Observer: “Sadly, people can earn up to £200 a day sitting on the streets in Leamington and then this money regularly gets used in a non-productive way, often to help feed an addiction.

“It’s really hard for the general public to know who is an addict and who isn’t, so as a general rule, we say avoid giving money out to any individual and instead direct individuals to local services where they can be helped in a better way.

“If the money can also be directed to local charities, it means we can continue our work to help people off the streets and even expand the services we currently offer. There’s so much more that could be done if money was ploughed in the right direction.”

The charity has in recent months worked to get people off the streets and into work, and even to be in a position to rent accommodation.

But Lianne was adamanat such help was only possible if the money was given to charities rather than directly to beggars.

She added: “It sounds harsh, but having worked for years with people who are homeless and those with addictions, it is those who have managed to get themselves out of addiction who now say to us that we should not be giving money out on the streets.

“That alone gives me enough confirmation to know we are definitely giving out the right advice and may just save someone’s life in the process.”

The Observer spoke to a regular beggar in Leamington who was unwilling to say if he was homeless or had an addiction, but he denied he made £200 a day. He would not however tell us how much he did make.

Warwick District Council, Warwickshire Police, The Salvation Army, BID Leamington and the Royal Priors Shopping Centre have previously run ‘Killing with Kindness’ campaigns, urging people to give money to homeless charities rather than directly to those begging on the street. The campaign aims to eliminate begging in Leamington which bosses say fuels drug and alcohol addiction.

Melisandre wrote::lol: Dutchman nope they have plenty of money over there and spend it un like Coventry people hence why my twin sisters choose to have their business in the Royal Priors over there rather than in Coventry.

Don't I know it Melisandre! We had customers who would travel to Leamington and pay a lot more for the same item they could have bought in Coventry.

Police defend action as beggar numbers rise

BEGGARS continue to plague the streets of Leamington town centre but the problem is not being ignored say police chiefs.

It has become almost impossible to walk down the Parade without being accosted at least once for money – much to the frustration of Observer readers.

Earlier this year we reported claims by a charity chief in the town that Leamington was providing rich pickings for beggars who could make up to £200 a day.

While some beggars take up a permanent position and ask for hand-outs, others walk up and down harassing passers-by for cash.

A Warwickshire Police spokesman told The Observer: “Leamington town centre has had ‘begging’ as one the top three issues to be tackled for over four years and at the beginning of the year the number involved reached record levels, with complaints from the public being received on a daily basis, stating that they were being harassed in the town’s car parks for money or being intimidated into giving money at cash points.

“The individuals involved in begging fluctuate as a large number of transient persons come to Leamington in the hope of improving their fortune, as well as ‘locals’. This is combined with an increase in people sleeping rough in the town centre and other reports of crime where individuals associated with begging have been involved.

“It is important to remember, that not all people who are homeless beg and likewise not all people who beg are homeless.

“People who beg are part of a broader street homelessness problem and are amongst the most vulnerable people in our society. They often have some of the most complex needs for example substance misuse, difficulties with benefits and the lack of alternatives to street life. They suffer from both the causes and consequences of anti-social behaviour and as such a consistent multi agency approach is needed to tackle what is a genuine and significant problem. It is therefore not an issue that can simply be dealt with through the criminal justice system.

“The police work with other agencies and support services to try and address the needs of the individuals found or reported to be begging. The person is offered support with finding accommodation, help with drug and alcohol addictions and sign posted to the support services and charities that operate in Leamington.

“When you see a community police officer talking with someone begging, it is often these types of conversations they are having. However, if the reports of them begging increase and members of the public are being harassed and distressed by their activity then further action is taken and as it is an offence to beg the option of taking them to court is used.

Police stress prosecution is a last resort, but it remains one which has been used, with the aim of getting an offender “to make choices they wouldn’t ordinarily take”.

The spokesman continued: “The campaign to deal with begging on the streets of Leamington saw nine people targeted for action. Of this group one has received a criminal behaviour order preventing him from begging in the town centre, one has been charged on two occasions and a third has received a community protection notice, warning him to stay away from the town centre car parks.

“All of this group have been offered advice and support from homeless outreach workers and drug addiction agencies, with two now actively engaged with them.

“It is ongoing work and one the police actively encourage the reporting of, to help guide partner agencies in their outreach work and the police deal with any harassment or distress that those begging cause members of the public.”