Police to act over begging problem
Tuesday 22nd July 2008, 11:10AM BST.
Police in Shrewsbury have been asked to look into the problem of beggars and vagrants in the town centre.
The feedback from a recent PACT surgery highlighted concerns over beggars, especially on Frankwell footbridge and near St Julian’s Friars footbridge.
Complaints and concerns had come in from residents in the town centre and in Belle Vue, who said there was at least one beggar on the Frankwell bridge every day.
Another major issue raised by members of the public was that of alcohol-related drunken disorder.
In particular, police had received a number of complaints about vagrants gathering in The Square and near public toilets in Hills Lane, drinking alcohol and becoming disorderly.
Police spokesman Richard Ewels said that police in the town centre were continuing to work to make Shrewsbury a safe place to visit.
“We’ve made it clear that we won’t accept anti-social behaviour,” he said. “It’s one of the priorities for the local policing team to ensure that there’s no anti-social behaviour, which includes people feeling threatened by aggressive begging. It’s an ongoing priority.”
Community police officers will be holding PACT surgeries in the town centre tomorrow at 2.30pm at The Quarry Fitness Centre, Priory Road.
There will be other surgeries on July 30 at 3pm at Oscars Cafe in the Music Hall, The Square, and on August 6 at 2.30pm at The Quarry Fitness Centre.
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about time too, i am scared of their dogs too, more should be done on people carrying savage fighting dogs about, we would not let them walk around with a loaded weapon yet that’s what a pitbull can be and they know it
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When my husband and I walk into town from Belle Vue we take turns guessing how many beggars will be on either side of Greyfriars Bridge. We’ve found used needles on the bridge on a Sunday morning and the beggars’ dogs relieve themselves all over the place. Don’t get me started on the groups (young and old!) who hang around outside the Lloyds Pharmacy with the very handy Spar keeping them in drink all night.
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drive the problem of the homeless and unwaged out of public view, then we can pretend that it is not happening.
What an Orwellian police state we are becoming, round them up move them on……….
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Makes you wonder what has happened to people, so that they end up on the streets? Sad really. Society ( or maybe their famillies, or so called friends ) should try and help them.
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It’s really sad that some people end up on the streets, but i would rather give to a charity that would help them not hand over money so they can go get more drink. It’s not nice having to push kids passed a large group getting drunk on the street. Plus there’s one couple always out begging that i know has a home and they must be getting benefits.
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A begger in Shrewsbury ask me for some money once, I didnt have any but had my sardies which I take for lunch – so I gave him these and walked on, turned around and he had chucked the sardies in the bin.
makes you wonder what they want the money for.
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anyone spare a fiver for a latte and a croissant
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Not sure why the Police had to be asked to do this. These specific areas in town have had these problems for years – is this the first time the Police have walked over Greyfriars bridge?
Round them up and move them on – well yes. If they couldn’t hang around, drink, beg and intimidate then perhaps they might seek out or accept the help that is available.
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I had a beggar taunt me one sunny day for being ‘stuck in a job on such a beautiful day’ as he stood there with a can of lager in his hand. I’ll never EVER give any money to them again. I also overheard two bragging to each other about how much money they had made sat on the Frankwell bridge – over £20 each in a morning. We’re the mugs for working and giving them our hard earned money.
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If people didn’t give in to beggers, giving them money as they sit idle on a bridge, then there would be no begging the first place.
Bring back the workhouses.
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We would be better off giving to a homeless charity so the money gets spent properly. Not sure about the workhouse comment! I hope you are joking.
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Again its easy for people to judge when not in that situation. However I do agree that the prospect of giving money to a ‘homeless’ person on a street who is drinking alcohol does make me think twice. Are we really helping them? I think moving them on from the street just hides the problem from people who do not want to think about people who are worse off than themselves (a true sign of the times). Maybe if police gave them advice and found them a homeless shelter instead this would be a positive outcome. Then people could give money directly to the shelter which would make sure that the people who are in need of shelter and food (and are not just doing it in their spare time whilst on benefits) get support and help from those who are willing to provide it.
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the worry about the bigots that post here such as Harry Saxon, is it is they who see no problem in blaming a section of society for all perceived ills,
beggars, immigrants, gays, workshy….
whats next, concentration camps?
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What gets me is, these people all seem to have mobile phones, always nicer and newer than my own – I’ve seen them trading numbers with each other. But if they’re homeless where do they charge them up??
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Police are well paid so let them buy the unfortunate beggars beer for them.
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