But the government will only do something if forced to by people who can vote: few of the beggars can. Even if enough ‘upstanding citizens’ do demand that something is done the government will push it on to the local authorities, but without giving them the resources to do the job. It needs a multi-agency (I believe that is the buzz-word) approach: the health service, social services and the justice system all working together. But that isn’t the British way.
There's a substantial 'industry' around homelessness in Wales; it's even got its own industry association. Largely publicly funded, it relies on a flow of new homeless people for its continued existence. There's little incentive for Government to address the root of the problem when they can support jobs and appear to be doing something,
Well, that is interesting! All those organisations involved in the homelessness ‘ industry’ in Wales and funded by the Welsh Government. No wonder Cardiff is attracting so many vagrants from far and wide. Even the weather is usually warmer than other parts of Britain.
Yes, you also get them in York.
When I was in Scotland recently, I spent some time in Perth - In the time I was there, I only saw one beggar. That may not be the standard though as I’ve only ever been there twice in my life. I’d imagine Edinburgh would be more attractive with a higher footfall and more tourism.
While there are gullible people then there will always be beggars
A problem is how you "deal" with it. It's increasingly politically and socially unacceptable to use the Vagrancy Act. How would you suggest it is dealt with?
Quite. Wales imports a not insignificant proportion of its homeless population, a cynic could suggest this is a deliberate policy to support this sector.
I've seen one catch the train from Pembroke dock to tenby every day then sit in the town centre you see him in nice clothes in Pembroke dock yet in old rags in tenby and pays for the train
They definitely do have them, but the announcements are a good idea and I’m sure do act as a deterrent, as do the frequent ticket inspections and security guards on the Overground. In contrast I seldom get on a Thameslink train without a beggar moving through, and the tube also has a rash of them these days since the pandemic - it seems to go in phases on the Underground and then there’s a crackdown and they become less common
I encounter such notes only very rarely and they tend to end up in the bin with the other litter.
There are very many rich people for whom a five pound note is insignificant. There are more rich people in the London and South East than elsewhere. What would you suggest a rich person does?
It is a very difficult problem. In Doncaster there are generally between one and five beggars around the station; they are usually polite and not aggressive. However, two years ago there were a lot of ‘spice-heads’ who were begging and very anti-social. They are no longer there so I wonder how they were dealt with? I suspect the problem has moved somewhere else, possibly Sheffield judging by the number of down-and-outs around Castle Square/Fargate.
I often wonder if a modern version of the work house is the answer. A roof over your head and three square meals a day in return for useful work for the local community or state. Police would have powers to send people there if caught begging.