Begging getting more common on the railway?

[londonbridge]

One thing I did like to do was give my full McDonald's coffee cards to the rough sleepers for a brew on their terms sadly maccies got rid of them though.

More often than not whenever I bought a maccies coffee I tended to forget I had the card. Found one at the back of my wallet with four stickers on it then saw it had expired. At the bottom in small print they used to say “expires 31/12/(year)”. Undeterred I bought two more coffees, then on my next visit asked for my free cup. Girl on the counter gave me the coffee and put the card straight in the till without even looking at it.

I’ve currently got a couple of coupons for free coffee at Greggs which expire end of this year so I could always offer one of those.

 

[riceuten]

I've noticed the Leeds station beggars have become far more brazen recently, they'll try their luck with the smokers or passers by outside the southern concourse and then just wander in to the station and start trying their luck with everyone on the concourse until they eventually get booted out, rinse and repeat!

There was someone and his tent outside the local Asda recently, the local Facebook group went 'poor guy' and wanted to help out, opinions soon changed when he mysteriously vanished all of a sudden only for it to turn out he had returned to...his flat!

There was a guy who used to beg and camped outside Dover Council's offices, protesting they wouldn't rehouse him. Ex-services as well - quite a few people - including the local branch of UKIP made a lot of noise about this, until it was revealed he had been a DCC tenant and had actually been evicted for drug dealing.

In Stevenage, an open access hostel opened up near the train station, and for a few months, you would consistently be begged off on the stairs down to the car park and taxi rank, as the beggars had realised that this was the local council's land, who did not enforce. Part of the problem was that the hostel dwellers were ejected from 10am to 4pm and hence had nowhere to go. I don't know what changed, but it's rare now.

 

[jon0844]

Did the hostel/shelter move, because one opened in Hatfield a year or two back and it would appear there are now a lot of issues in the town centre there now.

Actually, the begging is one thing, but there has been more robberies this year than I care to remember for some time. Likewise, there have been a few robberies (including one at knife point) in WGC in the last month.

 

[bramling]

Did the hostel/shelter move, because one opened in Hatfield a year or two back and it would appear there are now a lot of issues in the town centre there now.

Actually, the begging is one thing, but there has been more robberies this year than I care to remember for some time. Likewise, there have been a few robberies (including one at knife point) in WGC in the last month.

Seems to be a trend in London too. There’s been quite a spate of robberies on the Underground recently, both at stations and on trains. It doesn’t help that face coverings are now socially acceptable compared to a few years ago, which when combined with things like e bikes and e scooters is a troublesome combination.

 

[43066]

Seems to be a trend in London too. There’s been quite a spate of robberies on the Underground recently, both at stations and on trains. It doesn’t help that face coverings are now socially acceptable compared to a few years ago, which when combined with things like e bikes and e scooters is a troublesome combination.

There have been issues with phones being stolen outside tube stations for years, often being snatched by youths on stolen mopeds when people emerge and check their device. High end watch robberies are also increasingly a thing post Covid. It makes sense when fewer people carry cash, and these items are small, portable and (especially in the case of watches) sometimes highly valuable.

 

[riceuten]

Did the hostel/shelter move, because one opened in Hatfield a year or two back and it would appear there are now a lot of issues in the town centre there now.

Actually, the begging is one thing, but there has been more robberies this year than I care to remember for some time. Likewise, there have been a few robberies (including one at knife point) in WGC in the last month.

No, it was an additional branch of an existing one - it’s called ‘The Haven’. Street crime didn’t increase, just people asking for money.

 

[Jan Mayen]

Passed through London Victoria tonight.

It seems that begging is on the increase. There was even someone who went into the station pub to ask customers for money.

I appreciate it is against the law or railway bylaws to beg, but is there anything to be done? Or just ignore it and hope they go away. Any thoughts?

 

[REO Nate]

Text 61016 if you see beggars interfering with people and actively asking for money.

 

[yorkie]

Ignore it, and if you have time to do so, report it.

Do not ever give them money; they are acting illegally and may be part of a criminal gang.

 

[Hadders]

Beggars are often part of organised crime gangs, however convincing or desparate they might appear to be.

Do not give them any money. There are better ways of helping homeless people than giving money to beggars.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Definitely don't give them money. If nobody did, they'd go away.

Instead, if you want to help homeless people, donate to a relevant charity.

 

[stadler]

Just ignore them or say you have no money on you. I see beggars on the trains and at stations every day (including plenty of regulars) and always just ignore them. If you give money it will probably be spent on drugs or alcohol. Also never believe what they say. Lots of beggars will enter the carriage and announce their script (saying they just need money to get in to a shelter or that they are a war veteran or lost their house in a fire or some other made up lie to get sympathy) but it is all nonsense. Just simply ignore them and they will move on.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Just ignore them or say you have no money on you. I see beggars on the trains and at stations every day (including plenty of regulars) and always just ignore them. If you give money it will probably be spent on drugs or alcohol. Also never believe what they say. Lots of beggars will enter the carriage and announce their script (saying they just need money to get in to a shelter or that they are a war veteran or lost their house in a fire or some other made up lie to get sympathy) but it is all nonsense. Just simply ignore them and they will move on.

I overheard a guy telling some people how he had just lost his navy kit bag and needed money to get back to Portsmouth. He had told the same story to me many months before. Lets just say I was less convinced the second time.

 

[ainsworth74]

I overheard a guy telling some people how he had just lost his navy kit bag and needed money to get back to Portsmouth. He had told the same story to me many months before. Lets just say I was less convinced the second time.

Oh yeah there's one at Middlesbrough (not seen him for a while now though) who was forever claiming "I need to get to Northallerton but I'm 50p short can you help me out?" the first time I saw him I did my usual in that situation of saying I don't have any cash but I'll happily buy a ticket and he can give me the cash and I'll give him the ticket. He then came out with some ridiculous story about how they wouldn't sell a ticket if it wasn't for him and I just said oh well never mind then.

I saw him a couple of days later, same story, so this time I said "Still haven't managed to get to Northallerton then?" to which he, clearly panicking, said "What do you mean I've not been here before?!" and I pushed back saying "You have, I saw you the other day saying exactly the same story", "No, no no definitely wasn't me", by which point I was past him and heading to the platform. That, funnily enough, was the last time he bothered asking me when I saw him a few more times...

 

[baz962]

One got on a Bedford the other morning and asked for money and I hadn't. He really does look down and out , his trainers are gone in the front and show all his toes. He then asked for chocolate , so I gave up my twix . But yes some aren't really needy .

 

[Peter Sarf]

One got on a Bedford the other morning and asked for money and I hadn't. He really does look down and out , his trainers are gone in the front and show all his toes. He then asked for chocolate , so I gave up my twix . But yes some aren't really needy .

The lesson I learn't was how the gangs have a pitch they never leave unattended. A new member will relieve the member already begging there. They turn up looking smart enough and then take tatty/torn trousers and top out and put them on top to keep warm. I watched for hours at the South Bank end of Hungerford Bridge they scooped up quite a bit of money.

A genuine beggar I know of I never saw begging. He sat/slept overnight in a deeply set back doorway. He looked very weathered and I can believe he was genuinely homeless. For him it seemed logical for me to support a homeless charity.

Most genuinely needy people DO NOT BEG apparently. The charities have to go looking for them.

Where I have noticed begging getting very common on the railways last year or so is on Thameslink trains London Bridge to/from East Croydon.

 

[Jimini]

Where I have noticed begging getting very common on the railways last year or so is on Thameslink trains London Bridge to/from East Croydon.

That does seem to be the main corridor I encounter the tissue brigade -- by quite some margin -- so jives with your observations.

 

[Merle Haggard]

Begging on/near the railway is not new - before my retirement (long ago) I encountered persistent beggars in London.
One I remember in particular was the man with a dog halfway up the stairs from the Met/Circle line to the St.Pancras concourse. Every night he asked for money for food when I passed him.
Working late at Enterprise House one night I saw the sandwich machines being emptied. I asked whether I could take some - they were still in date but would be out in the morning, when staff returned - and I was given a bagful.
I gave the bag to the starving young.man. I had walked about three strides before he found out what was inside. Like a coiled spring he flew into a rage, shouted swear words and hurled the sandwiches at me. So perhaps he wasn't actually that hungry. Or his dog...

Certainly when I first worked in London in 1970 there were people by the Eversholt Street exit to Euston asking for 'a tanner for a cup of tea'. There was certain evidence that they heavily favoured stronger brews, already consumed at 08.30. They did sometimes get violent t - I remember one grabbing the shovel from a street-cleaner and whirling it around at high speed apparently to resolve some exchange of opinions.

 

[jon0844]

That does seem to be the main corridor I encounter the tissue brigade -- by quite some margin -- so jives with your observations.

Many beggars work a circular route, where they expect to have the least chance of staff being on the train. On the ECML it seems they get on at Finsbury Park and will be off by Alexandra Palace to go back (and repeat).

 

[Iron_Duke]

I've been commuting to/from New Street for the last couple of years and noticed it getting much worse. In the evening it's hard to move around the station, even beyond the barriers (which are closed) without being asked for money. I watched one guy go round all the passenger areas in the 'Red Lounge' harassing everyone for money a few weeks ago and having no luck. BTP never seem to take much interest in moving anyone on, even if they're behind the barriers.

The Greggs near Stephenson Street seems to be targeted for petty theft continuously. I was in there one lunchtime last year and a homeless guy followed in some customers, took a few sandwiches and drinks and scarpered. I asked the staff behind the counter what they do and they just shrugged their shoulders and said it happened repeatedly and they had no help from BTP or NR about it.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Many beggars work a circular route, where they expect to have the least chance of staff being on the train. On the ECML it seems they get on at Finsbury Park and will be off by Alexandra Palace to go back (and repeat).

I assume stations with no barriers feature in the itinerary ?.

I've been commuting to/from New Street for the last couple of years and noticed it getting much worse. In the evening it's hard to move around the station, even beyond the barriers (which are closed) without being asked for money. I watched one guy go round all the passenger areas in the 'Red Lounge' harassing everyone for money a few weeks ago and having no luck. BTP never seem to take much interest in moving anyone on, even if they're behind the barriers.

The Greggs near Stephenson Street seems to be targeted for petty theft continuously. I was in there one lunchtime last year and a homeless guy followed in some customers, took a few sandwiches and drinks and scarpered. I asked the staff behind the counter what they do and they just shrugged their shoulders and said it happened repeatedly and they had no help from BTP or NR about it.

Sad as not dealing with this will just make the problem worse as more and more realise they can get away with it.

 

[stephy]

When I used to regularly commute on the north Thameslink section back in 2010+, I would occasionally see the tissue sellers etc. However in the past 6-12 months although I now get the train infrequently, there is genuinely not a trip that doesn't feature some intimidating begging by smelly, clearly drugged up men. Literally any time of the day or night. The other day - around 9am. Today - 6pm. Going in or out of London. I've had them stare at me waiting for me to get money out (I don't). I feel increasingly uncomfortable on this train and very unsafe as they are very unstable people. I am sympathetic to the fact their lives must be awful but why has it increased so much? How are they getting on? They absolutely reek as well. It's honestly starting to get the point where I want to move my family away from the London metro area.

 

[Merseysider]

Have you reported the issue to BTP (61016) or the train company?

 

[stephy]

Every time. I never see any consequences.

 

[waterboo]

Moving out of London was the best thing I ever did!

 

[LLivery]

It's amazing how different our journeys can be. I've not had one on my Thameslink trains in a very long time and in general for me, it's nowhere near as common as it was pre Covid. Maybe I'm just lucky. Are they the same group of people?

 

[Thornaby 37]

Some of them have been at it for years, and repeating the same sob stories time and time again. Quite frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of them are con artists pretending to be homeless

 

[Chriso]

Yeah I too have noticed a marked increase on the 700s but also the Met and Circle are bad. I even had one between East Croydon and Gatwick a couple of weeks ago on Southern. The OBS was of course nowhere to be seen

 

[Indistinct]

I use Thameslink most days and I’d say about 25% will have a beggar with the usual story.

 

[43066]

Definitely a big, and growing problem. Worryingly they’re also increasingly aggressive, often swearing and ranting about being ignored.