Beggars Outside Cardiff Central.

[Envoy]

Yesterday a beggar with a bucket for ‘donations’ was approaching people as they left the main exit of Cardiff Central station. Another guy was lying on the pavement by the new Transport Interchange (Saunders Road) and asking for money. This problem is all to frequent by Cardiff Central yet nothing seems to be done about it. Where are the police? Perhaps they can’t be bothered to deal with these people? Is this problem widespread across the country (Great Britain)?

 

[Dr Hoo]

At many stations - Birmingham New Street and Manchester Piccadilly yesterday as instances - the beggars are operating inside the stations even whilst security staff and BT Police are in view.

(Appreciate that England is a distinct country. This is just an international perspective on the issue.)

 

[Ascotroyal]

Plenty of them outside Reading station. A lot that i know for a fact are not homeless. One in particular who goes around Reading on crutches he can't use properly is a con artist. Iv seen him a number of times walk to his brand new car and drive off.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

All over the entrance to Cardiff Central and all done St Mary’s Street its awful.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Ceasing to carry cash is a good way to get them to go away, but I'm waiting for one to shove a card machine in my face when I inform them of that!

 

[Flying Snail]

Ceasing to carry cash is a good way to get them to go away, but I'm waiting for one to shove a card machine in my face when I inform them of that!

Why would you inform some random dodgy character of your financial arrangements in the first place?

 

[duncanp]

At many stations - Birmingham New Street and Manchester Piccadilly yesterday as instances - the beggars are operating inside the stations even whilst security staff and BT Police are in view.

(Appreciate that England is a distinct country. This is just an international perspective on the issue.)

At Birmingham New Street, the BTP and security staff do chase the beggars away, but as soon as the polcie go away the beggars come back in.

It doesn't help that there are several entrances to the station, including via the Grand Central shopping centre.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Why would you inform some random dodgy character of your financial arrangements in the first place?

If you're approached it's an easy way to get them to go away because they know they won't get anything. I obviously don't go round telling them at random.

 

[CharlieSpotted]

Call me a bleeding heart liberal, but let's address the root problems and not the symptoms... those being variously addiction, mental health and utterly rampant social inequality. Begging and homelessness are the symptoms of a broken society. Until we fix that, let's be kind to those less fortunate.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Call me a bleeding heart liberal, but let's address the root problems and not the symptoms... those being variously addiction, mental health and utterly rampant social inequality. Begging and homelessness are the symptoms of a broken society. Until we fix that, let's be kind to those less fortunate.

The best way to be kind to people in that position is to donate to homelessness charities (ideally small local ones, as they're likely not to have any paid staff) rather than direct. Direct it mostly goes on drugs and alcohol which do nothing to help them out of the position they are in. And as said above, some of them aren't actually homeless and just find it a profitable endeavour.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Ceasing to carry cash is a good way to get them to go away, but I'm waiting for one to shove a card machine in my face when I inform them of that!

I’ll never forget the woman on the bridge between Hackney Central and Downs, who when I said I only have my card on me - no cash, said, “that’s fine, if it’s contactless I’ll have that.”

 

[Phil from Mon]

Not just Cardiff Central though, it is most of central Cardiff, which seems to have a greater homelessness problem than many other cities in the UK.

 

[Flying Snail]

Call me a bleeding heart liberal, but let's address the root problems and not the symptoms... those being variously addiction, mental health and utterly rampant social inequality. Begging and homelessness are the symptoms of a broken society. Until we fix that, let's be kind to those less fortunate.

And how do yo suggest that is achieved in a country that repeatedly elects a group that are brazenly promoting that social inequality at the same time as squeezing funding for all those services?

As said, throwing change at beggars, many of whom are professional beggars is not being kind, it is being naive and at the same time making the public environment worse for everyone by promoting begging.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Not just Cardiff Central though, it is most of central Cardiff, which seems to have a greater homelessness problem than many other cities in the UK.

Edinburgh does too.

 

[Runningaround]

Call me a bleeding heart liberal, but let's address the root problems and not the symptoms... those being variously addiction, mental health and utterly rampant social inequality. Begging and homelessness are the symptoms of a broken society. Until we fix that, let's be kind to those less fortunate.

Quite right, but offer to get them something that will help them through the day like a tea or a sandwich and some will turn it down. Cash just allows them to buy more harmful substances.

 

[Lemmy99uk]

Quite right, but offer to get them something that will help them through the day like a tea or a sandwich and some will turn it down. Cash just allows them to buy more harmful substances.

I often give money to homeless people and I will sometimes offer to buy them a coffee or a sandwich. I have done this for many years and have never, ever, had anyone refuse the offer of food or drink.

If I offer money to 10 people and it transpired 50% were con-artists I would be satisfied that I had helped 5 people who were in need.

 

[6Gman]

Yesterday a beggar with a bucket for ‘donations’ was approaching people as they left the main exit of Cardiff Central station. Another guy was lying on the pavement by the new Transport Interchange (Saunders Road) and asking for money. This problem is all to frequent by Cardiff Central yet nothing seems to be done about it. Where are the police? Perhaps they can’t be bothered to deal with these people? Is this problem widespread across the country (Great Britain)?

Did you raise it with anyone?

There was a guy in a wheelchair on Wolverhampton station badgering people for money. I had a word with staff; in minutes he was removed.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Did you raise it with anyone?

There was a guy in a wheelchair on Wolverhampton station badgering people for money. I had a word with staff; in minutes he was removed.

What's the point in having security guards if one has to report such issues rather than them acting proactively?

 

[6Gman]

What's the point in having security guards if one has to report such issues rather than them acting proactively?

I do not know what the arrangements are in Cardiff but I don't believe there were any security staff in Wolverhampton.

So just tell a member of staff.

In this case "see it, say it, sorted" worked.

 

[Essan]

Ceasing to carry cash is a good way to get them to go away, but I'm waiting for one to shove a card machine in my face when I inform them of that!

Aye, I'm waiting for that to happen when I give my stock reply of "sorry, I don't carry cash any more".

 

[AndrewP]

The best way to be kind to people in that position is to donate to homelessness charities (ideally small local ones, as they're likely not to have any paid staff) rather than direct. Direct it mostly goes on drugs and alcohol which do nothing to help them out of the position they are in. And as said above, some of them aren't actually homeless and just find it a profitable endeavour.

I agree so much with this - also acknowledge them - apparently if they are genuine simply being noticed and someone being polite means a lot

 

[Envoy]

Not just Cardiff Central though, it is most of central Cardiff, which seems to have a greater homelessness problem than many other cities in the UK.

It could be to do with the fact that just south of the central station are facilities for the homeless - such as The Huggard Centre. Having facilities to help the homeless is surely going to attract more people from a wider area? It surely would have been better if the homeless facilities were away from the city centre; for example, the Huggard Centre could be the Youth Hostel and the YHA - located behind the VW dealership become the Huggard Centre. Even better would be to have re-habilitation centres out in the countryside.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Apr 2022 ==

Did you raise it with anyone?

There was a guy in a wheelchair on Wolverhampton station badgering people for money. I had a word with staff; in minutes he was removed.

Yes, I told a staff member of TfW and asked where the Transport Police were to which he replied most likely hanging out in their cabin.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Apr 2022 ==

I often give money to homeless people and I will sometimes offer to buy them a coffee or a sandwich. I have done this for many years and have never, ever, had anyone refuse the offer of food or drink.

If I offer money to 10 people and it transpired 50% were con-artists I would be satisfied that I had helped 5 people who were in need.

I think that you are part of the problem and leading to increased numbers of beggars frequenting places with high footfall. Cardiff Council say that people should not give these people money as they have outreach workers to try to deal with their complex needs including mental health and drug addition. People giving these people money - which they might well spend on illegal substances - are only contributing to their miserable lives and eventual death. Far better to let professionals deal with the problem.

 

[43066]

asked where the Transport Police were to which he replied most likely hanging out in their cabin.

Trouble is, if they aren’t being brazen/aggressive and are simply hanging around, it’s difficult for the police to do much. Especially when they’re spread so thinly.

A high % of the apparently homeless in London (and no doubt other cities) are actually professional beggars with their own accommodation and most are given enough food in a day to feed several people! Ed Stafford did an interesting fly on the wall documentary about it a few years back where he lived rough for a few days in a few cities throughout the U.K. He rapidly discovered things are not always what they seem…

Of course, as others have noted, drug addiction and alcohol abuse are also key drivers if this behaviour (and of genuine homelessness). It’s impossible for a passer by to tell who is genuine and who isn’t, so giving cash really is about the worst thing you can do.

 

[Railcar]

On the East London Line of London's Overground (which runs through Whitechapel) there are announcements in the trains about not giving money to beggars, but giving instead to a 'mission' in Whitechapel. Having travelled on that line since the announcemnts started, there have not been beggars, or the 'packet of tissues' begggars

 

[syorksdeano]

There was a guy in a wheelchair on Wolverhampton station badgering people for money. I had a word with staff; in minutes he was removed.

I believe he tends to hang around Sainsburys now, or did last time I saw him

 

[gazzaa2]

Call me a bleeding heart liberal, but let's address the root problems and not the symptoms... those being variously addiction, mental health and utterly rampant social inequality. Begging and homelessness are the symptoms of a broken society. Until we fix that, let's be kind to those less fortunate.

We'll continue with the nonsensical 'war on drugs', social inequality, inadequate mental health services while combined with the cost of living, Brexit repercussions, lockdown repercussions on the economy/mental health etc etc.

Beggars at stations/town centres will only increase. Part of the problem are people who give money to beggars which often go straight to the local drug dealer/off license.

 

[John Luxton]

Yesterday a beggar with a bucket for ‘donations’ was approaching people as they left the main exit of Cardiff Central station. Another guy was lying on the pavement by the new Transport Interchange (Saunders Road) and asking for money. This problem is all to frequent by Cardiff Central yet nothing seems to be done about it. Where are the police? Perhaps they can’t be bothered to deal with these people? Is this problem widespread across the country (Great Britain)?

Quite a lot of street beggars in Liverpool between Central station and bottom of Hanover Street. Not seen in Central or Lime Street Stations though.

After having read in the past that for some begging is just a hobby the police need to be pro-active.

I seem to recall a newspaper article a few years ago when a beggar was monitored by a journalist who then followed him to his up market car!

Beggars need to be moved on any city or area that tolerates them needs to recognise that they can be off putting to visitors who find them intimidating.

Seems to be quite a few around Chester East Gate Cathedral Area of the Walls.

Last autumn a couple of them sitting on a bench between the canal and city walls tried to engage me in a conversation I just walked by quickly and had a torrent of abuse shouted after me.

Police really do need to shift them on or deal with them under vagrancy laws

 

[Tomos y Tanc]

We'll continue with the nonsensical 'war on drugs', social inequality, inadequate mental health services while combined with the cost of living, Brexit repercussions, lockdown repercussions on the economy/mental health etc etc.

Beggars at stations/town centres will only increase. Part of the problem are people who give money to beggars which often go straight to the local drug dealer/off license.

There are beggers and people with mental health problems around any major station you care to name.

In Cardiff's case, there are more than enough places at the Hugget Centre for people living on the streets. The centre is a couple of hundred yards form the central station. I am not a judgemental person but these people have options that the refuse to take.

 

[Dai Corner]

And how do yo suggest that is achieved in a country that repeatedly elects a group that are brazenly promoting that social inequality at the same time as squeezing funding for all those services?

As said, throwing change at beggars, many of whom are professional beggars is not being kind, it is being naive and at the same time making the public environment worse for everyone by promoting begging.

I don't think the Labour run Welsh Government or Cardiff Council would agree with your description.

 

[Parallel]

Edinburgh does too.

And Oxford. I was quite shocked just how much homelessness there was throughout the city centre when I passed through some time ago. Last time, there were beggars outside the station. It's clearly part of a wider issue which the government/local councils need to tackle.