Browse Sections
Interactive
Popular Sections
Cloudy with showersNews
| 
Submit Comments
DON’T kill with kindness ... Councillor Doreen Brophy-Lee.
advertisement
Asbo threat for street beggars
Faye Adams3/10/2008
BEGGARS have been warned they could be handed Asbos to get them off the streets.
Rochdale Council chiefs are urging people not to give money to beggars as part of its hard-hitting ‘Don’t kill with kindness’ campaign.
The campaign is part of a joint effort between the council, the police and homeless organisations.
A number of local authorities have used anti-social behaviour orders to prevent begging, but it is thought it is the first time the power has been used in Rochdale.
The council says giving to beggars just keeps them on the streets for longer and encourages them to stay in the cycle of rough sleeping.
People should donate money instead to homeless charities like Petrus and the Salvation Army.
Cabinet member for housing, Councillor Doreen Brophy-Lee, said: "I know people mean well when they give money directly to beggars and in the past I’ve done it myself.
"But it just helps them to stay on the streets for longer, which is no good for them and no good for the communities they are living in."
Councillor Brophy-Lee said there was no shortage of help for homeless people in the borough.
"The council funds local charities and support services to make sure that all homeless people have access to accommodation, treatment services, benefits, food and clothing," she added.
A new rough sleepers project has just been launched to help people living on the streets to get advice, support and practical help.
Outreach workers will identify homeless people and offer them help.
Where offers of help are consistently refused, persistent beggars could then be hit with Asbos.
Petrus officials support the council’s campaign.
Project coordinator Denis Skelton said: "The money that we give to registered charities like the Salvation Army will go to services.
"And a lot of people probably know that if you give to beggars it probably isn’t going on accommodation or food because they probably do have fairly serious addiction issues."
Mike Warner, deputy manager of the Salvation Army’s homeless hostel, said: "Street begging is a concern because of the intimidation factor.
"The heart of the problem is that there’s no reason why they should be street begging.
"There’s hostel accommodation being offered to the majority of those individuals but they don’t want to buy into it."
l It’s thought there are about a dozen people sleeping rough in the borough at present.
In March this year, 47 families were living in temporary accommodation, according to the council’s homelessness service.
Most recent 2 of 3 user comments
3/10/2008 at 16:20
Got an opinion you want to share?| Card | BT Fee |
| Virgin Credit Card | 2.98% |
| Capital One Low Rate Balance Transfer | 1.7% |
| Capital One Low Rate Platinum | HASH(0x2abf208376d0) |
| Capital One Fixed Rate Card | 0.0% |
| Company | Typical APR |
| Platinum Exclusive Loan | 7.8% |
| Bank of Scotland (Semi-exclusive) | 8.6% |
| Halifax (Semi-exclusive) | 8.6% |
| Alliance & Leicester | 8.7% |
| Sainsbury's Personal Loan | 8.9% |
| Provider | AER* |
|
ICICI BANK HiSAVE Savings Account |
5.50% |
|
SAINSBURYS FINANCE Internet Saver |
4.00% |
|
FIRST DIRECT Everyday e-Saver |
2.75% |
|
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER Online Tracker |
6.00% |
|
ABBEY Instant Access Saver (Special Issue 2) |
6.00% |
|
ING DIRECT Savings Account |
6.00% |
|
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER eSaver - Issue 2 |
6.30% |
|
ABBEY eSaver Direct |
6.00% |
|
POST OFFICE Instant Saver |
3.75% |
4/10/2008 at 02:39