Residents and businesses rubbish claims there are fewer beggars on the streets
BUSINESS leaders and residents have rubbished claims that there are fewer beggars on the city streets a year after a council-led crackdown.
In October last year Swansea Council pledged to clamp down on beggars, and placed signs at begging hotspots asking people to consider donating money to charities rather than hand over their cash.
The aim was to drive beggars off the streets and clean up the shopping areas.
A year on, the council has hailed the campaign a success and claims the city has fewer beggars on its streets.
But that claim has been met by scepticism from those who say beggars on the streets are still dragging the image of Swansea into the gutter.
A Swansea Council spokesman said: "Feedback from members of the public and the business community has been very positive and we have noticed a fall in the number of people begging."
But Peter Birch, who owns the Bumper to Bumper car accessories shop in Dillwyn Street and is also vice-chairman of Swansea Business Improvement District (Bid), said he had not seen much change.
He said: "There are no major signs of any progress although the police have been a lot more active.
"The city rangers are doing their best but it is very difficult to move the beggars on.
"The police have more powers to deal with them.
"They still congregate in the same places by the YMCA and the Kingsway.
"I see beggars picking up fag ends and walking past the shop with cans of alcohol at 9am. This is not a good image for visitors to the city."
Begging in a public place is an arrestable offence under the 1824 Vagrancy Act, and offenders can face a fine of up to £1,000.
City resident Louisa James said she had actually noticed an increase in the amount of beggars over the last year.
She said: "I encounter beggars every day as I walk to and from work.
"They sit in the under passage which links Wind Street and Morgans Hotel. Every day there is a different beggar there, morning and night.
"I have also been unlucky to encounter some abusive comments from a beggar on a few separate occasions when I have chosen to ignore their requests for money."
The council recently introduced eight special pitches for buskers which the council said helped to discourage beggars who busk.
A spokesman added: "Anyone with concerns about beggars in the city centre is asked to either contact the police or the City Centre Partnership offices on Plymouth Street."
22 Comments
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by Mathew Giles, Swansea
Friday, November 20 2009, 12:27PM
“I agree with Louisa comments, I work on Wind Street and everyday I have to put up with people asking me for money and sometimes being rude when I say no, these people are not homeless just looking for a bit more beer money”
by leanne, swansea
Wednesday, November 18 2009, 7:38PM
“The city tries to cut down on traffic through the city by encouraging public transport, cycling or walking. When people try to help make the city a cleaner one by walking to the bus stop or walking to work they are being put off by beggars. The winter is drawing in and the mornings and evenings are dark. Would you want to be walking through the streets being stopped by strangers begging at you?”
by City Resident, Swansea City Centre
Wednesday, November 18 2009, 4:32PM
“To: geoff, Westcross, I totally agree with your point, this article is not all about the man in the photo, the article was designed to bring the issue to people's attention, and for people to realise that begging seems to be on the increase in our town.
I once stopped and spoke to a frequent beggar and offered to take them to a nearby shop and buy them something to eat, to the response I had "No thanks, I'd rather have the money".
People beg because they know that they don't have to work and it's a good money earner for them and we're funding them.”
by J Doyle, Swansea
Tuesday, November 17 2009, 12:17PM
“If someone gave me the choice of ridding our City of ¿beggars¿, or ridding it of our small-minded and bigoted Evening Post, I would opt for the latter.
The gentleman the Post¿s inept photographer has captured is not even a beggar. It seems that, according to our City¿s paper, if your appearance does not conform to something akin to a window dummy in Burton, you must be a down-and-out low life. That insular, judgmental attitude is far too often the cause of hostility towards minority groups.
How humiliating for this poor gentleman to be the unfortunate crux of such a detrimental and adverse front-page headline. And how ironic that the Post should tag ¿beggars¿ as the cause of so much trouble and bother in the City. I am sure it is not a fraction of the amount of trouble inflicted on our society by the weekend binge-drinking drunks on Wind Street. But would the Post be willing to show a picture of a Wind Street pub landlord and question whether our City suffers from too many pubs? Of course not. Instead they choose to pick on someone they think perfectly represents the begging community and who they undoubtedly consider incapable of defending himself. A cheap and unforgivable shot.
And lastly, did the people responsible for this misguiding story consider the possible repercussions for the gentleman in question? That he could now become the target of hostile behaviour or even aggression?
Evening Post, you have a lot to answer for. The next time I see this lovely and friendly gentleman I will be suggesting that he may consider taking legal advice against the paper for defamation to his character. I hope he does, and I hope he wins. Now that is a headline I would love to see on the front page.”
by nona, swansea
Monday, November 16 2009, 10:59PM
“I'm Nona, a backward Anon, who begs to ask Geoff of West Cross why does he wish to call Anon a "TenT" or a "TarT"? Maybe that other snide genius from West Cross called "Paul" could answer for his neighbour Geoff if Geoff cannot explain.”