Police in Birmingham city centre are getting tough on begging with the help of five-and-a-half thousand pounds of funding from the Proceeds of Crime Act.
The cash is being pumped into an initiative which gives people an opportunity to get off the streets before they face the prospect of arrest and an appearance in court.
Called Operation Engage, it has been running since March in response to public perception surveys which highlight begging as the biggest issue for people who visit, work or live in the city centre.
Officers in plain-clothes are carrying out dedicated patrols to identify offenders who are then referred to the nearby Swanswell charity which can assist in getting them get back on their feet.
But if a person refuses to get help and continues to beg, they face the prospect of being arrested and dealt with through the criminal justice system instead.
“We want to help people,” said PC Alex Franks. “The aim is always to provide them with the support they need, with a view to aiding them back into a perceived ‘normal’ lifestyle.
“But begging is a crime and we know from what people are telling us that it’s something they want to see tackled, which is why if someone refuses to take the help, we will arrest them.
“The money we’ve got from POCA has been used to pay for Swanswell’s services, which means we can guarantee someone who is begging will be seen straight away if we refer them there − they’ve therefore got no excuses for not taking the offer of support.”
A large proportion of beggars are battling drug, alcohol or gambling addictions and want to better their lives, which is why many will happily engage with the police and seek help.
Celia Warrender, from Swanswell, has already seen the benefits of the police referrals. She said: “There’s one specific person who comes to mind who the police identified who hasn’t particularly engaged very well in the past.
“He was reluctant at first, but we were able to offer support in different areas − so not just in relation to the drug addiction but also with benefits, housing, employment etc. He’s doing really well, has attended more than the required appointments and is now off the streets.”
But there are others who have no interest in changing their ways. They are prolific, aggressive offenders who PC Franks and her team are committed to tackling.
“They will refuse to speak to us time and time again − and it’s these people who are the biggest blight on the city centre, causing the issues we hear about from the public,” said PC Franks.
“We have so far successfully managed to secure five anti-social behaviour orders in a four month period, with one other pending. These are six of our main targets, one of whom is already in prison for breaching his ASBO on four separate occasions within two weeks of it being granted.
“Ultimately, begging is an offence and it is clearly having an impact on people and businesses in the city centre; there’s only so much help we can offer people before we have to take other action.”
Members of the public are also being urged to think about alternatives to donating cash to beggars in the city centre, which is often used to feed an addiction.
For example, the Street Link charity offers the public a means to act when they see someone sleeping rough by enabling them to alert the local authority. You can tell Street Link about a rough sleeper via its app or online at www.streetlink.org.uk.
Officers are also working with local organisations to set up an alternative giving scheme which encourages people to give an extra £1 on their bill in a cafe or restaurant, which is then put towards assisting rehabilitation in terms of education and providing work based skills.
PC Franks added: “There’s no simple solution to the problem of begging in Birmingham but we know anecdotally that we’re doing something right and I’m confident that through this proactive ‘person centred’ approach, along with our local partners, we can make a difference and improve the quality of life for everyone.”
http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/latest-news/news.aspx?id=1740
