COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

Five people have been arrested for begging as part of a police crackdown.

Undercover officers have been operating in Coventry city centre and making arrests when they were asked for money.

To charge beggars with the offence, police need evidence from a person who has been asked for money, police said.

A 31-year-old man was fined £65 and two others, aged 30 and 31, spent two nights in custody. A 27-year-old woman and man, aged 24, have yet to be dealt with, a spokesman said.

martin wrote:Some of these street people belong to organised groups who are already beginning to change their tactics. I've noticed some of the regulars have already started "begging in silence" meaning they are now vagrants instead of beggars.