| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Beggar outside Natwest Bank | |
| Posted by: | Leslie McDonnell | |
| Date/Time: | 25/11/12 23:13:00 |
| Simon Begging is contrary to the Vagrancy Act 1824, and requires a police officer to catch the miscreant in the act. Steps can and will be taken, if the police locally now act in a positive and timely manner. I do not accept that the innocent many who have given to this man genuinely believing him to be homeless and hungry should be made to suffer and certainly do not believe that their wholly well-intentioned activities should be criminalised. We have a strong tradition of collecting legally and under license for good causes in this country, I was collecting for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal recently, and would hate potential beneficiaries from being put off from giving to such good causes. It is up to the police locally to make it clear to the begging fraternity that Putney is a no-go area. |