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."