Some members of the public give to people begging in the belief that they are homeless. The reality is that the majority of beggars are not homeless: money is often used to sustain a drug habit and does nothing to help people rebuild their lives. Many other people are intimidated by the presence of beggars and feel unsafe.

It is important to adopt an approach that ensures local agencies take action to tackle begging, by using the full range of enforcement powers available, backed-up by access to drug treatment.

An arrest can provide an opportunity for an individual to engage with the arrest referral scheme and voluntarily accept a referral to appropriate treatment. All custody suites across the country now have voluntary arrest referral schemes that offer opportunities to access effective treatment and support.
Powers for tackling begging:

* Vagrancy Act 1824 (section 3). Enables the arrest of anybody who is begging. It is a recordable offence and carries a level 3 fine (currently £1,000);

* Highways Act 1980 (section 137). If a person willfully obstructs the free passage along a highway they are guilty of an offence. This carries a level 2 fine (currently £00);

* Public Order Act 1986 (section 5). Causing harassment, alarm or distress. This carries a level 3 fine (£1000) or a penalty notice of £80.

Community sentences can currently be imposed when the court considers that the offence is serious enough to warrant that penalty.

Under the Criminal Justice Act 2003, the courts will be able to issue community sentences, rather than fines, for those convicted a fourth time for an offence. This may include community penalties for drug, alcohol and mental health treatment. These powers are scheduled to come into force in late 2004.

In some cases it may be appropriate to use other civil measures, including injunctions under section 222 of the Local Government Act 1972 and anti-social behaviour orders.”

All we need in York is a proper police force to enforce the law, and a zero tolerance policy will work wonders I promise.

But what’s the point?

Why on earth have bye-laws if they aren’t going to be enforced? More spin and gesture politics that have no influence on solving these problems.

Stocks and gallows please!

York has always had this druggy problem. It was there when I lived there and certainly when my Mum used to work for the NHS, her dept. used to find all the druggies new GPs as they got through them rather quickly.

It’s been going on for years, and as no one has done anything to tackle the root cause, you can only assume that word spreads fast - if all the undesirables are from outside the city, it’s obviously considered that drugs are completely acceptable in York. I can’t understand how such a small city has such a horrible problem otherwise. It bothers me greatly.

It’ll take a few tourists to be affected in some horrific way and a bit of tabloid coverage to turn the tides no doubt..I imagine that only when the tourists stop coming will the authorities take the proper stance that is needed and that is disgusting.