Beggars at railway stations

[Statto]

Liverpool Lime Street used to be plagued with "beggars" walking up to people and asking for "60p for the train home" etc etc etc. They were mostly off their faces on drink, drugs or a combination of both. I once got hassled for "spare change" and I gave the guy the last 5p in my pocket just to get rid of him. He looked at it, said "what's that?" and handed it back to me!

Anyway, the BTP and station security had a crackdown because it was getting out of control, especially the group of smack rats that would congregate on the corner opposite the Crown pub, and now you rarely see anyone hassling people for money at Lime Street station.

Agreed, Lime Street station has got a lot better, i always got approached by someone "can you do me a favour" which i replied "i'm in a rush". There's one notorious beggar in Liverpool/Bootle area, been done a few times for aggressive begging.

If you gave every beggar money that asked you for money, you'd be out of money yourself, there are genuine homeless were if you want to help, your better off donating money to one of the homeless charities.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

The beggars in Glasgow have cottoned on to the idea that if you have a cute or depressed looking dog as a sidekick then you will attract more revenue, my wife is a sucker for that set up.

It's long been understood that one of the reasons homeless people have dogs is that it makes people more likely to give. I'd say that says more about the givers than the beggars.

 

[greyman42]

The beggars in Glasgow have cottoned on to the idea that if you have a cute or depressed looking dog as a sidekick then you will attract more revenue, my wife is a sucker for that set up.

That may well be the case with some of the beggars but some of them have dogs for the company and protection they provide.

 

[Mordac]

It's long been understood that one of the reasons homeless people have dogs is that it makes people more likely to give. I'd say that says more about the givers than the beggars.

I've heard a lot of people say they are more likely to give if they have a dog, but for me it's exactly the opposite. If you can afford the dog you can't be that badly off. To be fair, maybe that's just because I don't particularly like dogs, and maybe I'd be the sucker if they had a cute kitten instead.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

It's long been understood that one of the reasons homeless people have dogs is that it makes people more likely to give. I'd say that says more about the givers than the beggars.

Looking at it from another angle, to me if the homeless have a mutt at the side of them there's the possibility that the mutt could either have been nicked from someone or the person begging isn't really homeless they're just using a defenceless animal and using peoples feelings to help fund their drug fund.

If I ever offer anything to the homeless it'll be food and a soft light drink and if they refuse that then they're not homeless as a homeless person would be greatful for the food.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I've heard a lot of people say they are more likely to give if they have a dog, but for me it's exactly the opposite. If you can afford the dog you can't be that badly off. To be fair, maybe that's just because I don't particularly like dogs, and maybe I'd be the sucker if they had a cute kitten instead.

I'm not a dog person myself, but I wasn't really speaking for myself as such. It's been observed and studied by sociologists that a beggar with a dog will be given more than a beggar without one.

Looking at it from another angle, to me if the homeless have a mutt at the side of them there's the possibility that the mutt could either have been nicked from someone or the person begging isn't really homeless they're just using a defenceless animal and using peoples feelings to help fund their drug fund.

If I ever offer anything to the homeless it'll be food and a soft light drink and if they refuse that then they're not homeless as a homeless person would be greatful for the food.

That's a very simplistic worldview.

 

[Wychwood93]

It's long been understood that one of the reasons homeless people have dogs is that it makes people more likely to give. I'd say that says more about the givers than the beggars.

I have heard it said that, should a person be on benefits, then they are entitled to more with a dog - especially one that is so poor that it smokes and drinks Special Brew (other high alcohol drinks are available).

 

[Wtloild]

It's long been understood that one of the reasons homeless people have dogs is that it makes people more likely to give. I'd say that says more about the givers than the beggars.

There's some probability that the beggar is on drink/drugs or trying it on in some way.
The dog itself is highly unlikely to be.
There's a beggar always sat outside our local supermarket (who according to staff leaves by taxi at the end of each day). When my son's with me, he always insists we get a chicken drumstick from the rotisserie counter, for the dog.

 

[gazzaa2]

There's beggars everywhere now in austerity Britain. Railways are no exception.

 

[oldman]

There's beggars everywhere now in austerity Britain. Railways are no exception.

Nothing new. From Hansard 2000:

The problem of begging is a concern to all public transport operators and in particular the railways and London Underground. They are trying to increase public awareness of the associated problems and announcements are made on stations and trains requesting that the public refrain from giving money to beggars.

... A multi-agency group has also been formed ...

 

[ainsworth74]

Nothing new. From Hansard 2000:

Indeed. It is however noticeably worse than it was even four or five years ago.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Just seen a rather amusing thing at Huddersfield. A bloke came up to me outside the station and asked for 8p, and I said I didn't have any change. 30 seconds later another bloke also asked for 8p, and I told him his mate had just asked me. I overheard them both asking several other people for 8p, and they then were discussing their situation and said they'd got £16 so needed another £4. I considered advising them to (a) ask for larger amounts as it'd save them time, and (b) co-ordinating their task so they weren't both asking the same people!

But, it's quite entertaining watching them...

 

[Randomer]

Going back to Leeds from the first post I'm surprised she hasn't been turfed out by BTP yet.

Certainly there used to be a couple of well known nominals who used to sit and beg just at the start of New Station Street leaning against a lamp post just at the edge of the land which BTP had railway bylaw powers over. WYP wouldn't do anything about it for years until one of them started a fight with the other one day over the 'prime' spot and got arrested for it.

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

WYP wouldn't do anything about it

Do you mean WMP? Not sure West Yorkshire cover New Street. Would be a bit of a stretch...

 

[dazzler]

Going back to Leeds from the first post I'm surprised she hasn't been turfed out by BTP yet.

Certainly there used to be a couple of well known nominals who used to sit and beg just at the start of New Station Street leaning against a lamp post just at the edge of the land which BTP had railway bylaw powers over. WYP wouldn't do anything about it for years until one of them started a fight with the other one day over the 'prime' spot and got arrested for it.

(My bold text)

Do you mean WMP? Not sure West Yorkshire cover New Street. Would be a bit of a stretch...

Nope, West Yorkshire Police cover New Station Street, which is the street leading to Leeds Station (formerly Leeds New, then Leeds City)

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

(My bold text)


Nope, West Yorkshire Police cover New Station Street, which is the street leading to Leeds Station (formerly Leeds New, then Leeds City)

Oh dear, misread the order of the words

 

[dazzler]

Oh dear, misread the order of the words

Don't worry, I do it all the time myself!

 

[Mojo]

There were 3 TFL guys in the ticket hall who were watching with some interest but didn't seem particularly interested in doing anything about it - I don't know who is responsible for those subways or if they should be getting involved.

The subways by Charing + station are the responsibility of Westminster City Council and thus are not the responsibility of any of the railway operators and nor are they BTP jurisdiction.

The issues there are actually a lot better now than they were a few years ago; partly this is down to a quite an interesting approach taken by the London Fire Brigade who deem it part of the evacuation route from the station; thus banning any 'combustible' materials and also people obstructing the thoroughfare by sleeping; next time you are there look for their letters on the wall!

 

[quantinghome]

There's a beggar always sat outside our local supermarket (who according to staff leaves by taxi at the end of each day). When my son's with me, he always insists we get a chicken drumstick from the rotisserie counter, for the dog.

Chicken bones for dogs - not a good idea.

 

[quantinghome]

Whilst it is no doubt frustrating to be approached for money by people who are lying about what they will use it for, let's have some context.

600 homeless people died last year. The average age of death was 43. So much for the statistics; this is a real-life example: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/homeless-wheelchair-bound-mum-found-14100680

As a comparison look at how we treat smoking. It's entirely self-inflicted and on average reduces life expectancy by 10 years, but we are willing to expend considerable sums of money to get people to stop smoking and treat those who are living with the health consequences.

By contrast, homelessness has more complex causes. Sometimes it's the fault of the person, but often it's not. It reduces life expectancy by 35 years. Where is the concerted effort to address the problem?

So yes, in general, don't give to people directly unless it's food, but if you can, please support the charities who are trying to address this increasing problem.

 

[Bletchleyite]

So yes, in general, don't give to people directly unless it's food, but if you can, please support the charities who are trying to address this increasing problem.

Agreed, I genuinely believe that supporting homelessness charities is the best way to ensure the money is well spent, particularly small ones which have lower overheads.

 

[Mojo]

So yes, in general, don't give to people directly unless it's food, but if you can, please support the charities who are trying to address this increasing problem.

I think that local authorities, owners of publicly accessible places, and public transport operators need to take more responsibility for promoting this fact. This may also have the side effect that means fewer vagrants congregate on their premises bothering and putting off their customers.

 

[ainsworth74]

I think that local authorities, owners of publicly accessible places, and public transport operators need to take more responsibility for promoting this fact.

There's been a campaign running in Middlesbrough recently at the station and in the town centre to that effect. Posters asking people to give to charities rather than to the beggars directly. It may have even had a small effect as there doesn't seem to be quite so much begging in the town centre as there was six months ago. But still plenty of rough sleeping going on.

 

[Mag_seven]

I've noticed an increase in "musical instrument player" beggars on London Underground lately.

 

[philjo]

I was on a Thameslink stopper to St Albans on a Saturday a couple of weeks ago.
A young couple boarded at Farringdon. She walked down the train placing a packet of tissues and a note asking for payment on the seats next to passengers. about minutes later she would ask for money or collect the tissues back. she then moved into the next coach and repeated one coach at a time along the train.

 

[philjo]

I've noticed an increase in "musical instrument player" beggars on London Underground lately.

There is a group of buskers who seem to operate on the northern half of the circle/met lines as they can walk along the train between stations. They will walk along the train, playing while one of them is asking for money. They then get alight at a station and board the train behind. it gets very loud standing next to a trumpet in a moving train !

 

[Mojo]

I've noticed an increase in "musical instrument player" beggars on London Underground lately.

I'd argue there are probably less now, compared to a 18-12 months or so when there was a large crackdown.

 

[Mag_seven]

I'd argue there are probably less now, compared to a 18-12 months or so when there was a large crackdown.

Anecdotally I suggest another crackdown is required!

 

[ChiefPlanner]

I was on a Thameslink stopper to St Albans on a Saturday a couple of weeks ago.
A young couple boarded at Farringdon. She walked down the train placing a packet of tissues and a note asking for payment on the seats next to passengers. about minutes later she would ask for money or collect the tissues back. she then moved into the next coach and repeated one coach at a time along the train.

That has been going on for some years.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Just seen a rather amusing thing at Huddersfield. A bloke came up to me outside the station and asked for 8p, and I said I didn't have any change. 30 seconds later another bloke also asked for 8p, and I told him his mate had just asked me. I overheard them both asking several other people for 8p, and they then were discussing their situation and said they'd got £16 so needed another £4. I considered advising them to (a) ask for larger amounts as it'd save them time, and (b) co-ordinating their task so they weren't both asking the same people!

But, it's quite entertaining watching them...

Is it that six foot 8p joker again? I thought he was behind bars through consistant begging and shoplifting, he needs to be sent somewhere that is miles from any railway station, the northern part of the Highlands will do.