DarloRich
Veteran Member
Ignore them and contact btp and/or on train staff
I recall people begging on the tube in Central London at least 20 years ago. The young man asked for our attention and then related his story as to why he need the money. No attempt to sell us anything and no donation from me nor anyone else as I recall.
What would the PIS screen message say? That could potentially end up being a PR distaser. I can't imagine it could say no begging.
I guess you're right it probably wouldn't be tolerated on classic private premises. The railway (station) a public place though, open to all rich or poor, lots of places of shelter at stations
But they aren't owned by the public, are they? They are owned by (generally) Network Rail.and the land technically being owned by the public. It's not quite the same as say a supermarket. More similar to say a council owned shopping precinct.
Ah I see. Didn't realise about the organised crime.A very large proportion off begging is organised crime. Loads of eastern european people begging with laminated signs saying 'need money for their baby' (which is nonsense as the NHS wouldn't charge for it). Tissue begging is also organised crime.
You can definitely tell the difference between the 'genuine' begging and organised crime. As someone pointed out, clean clothes,, printed and laminated stuff as opposed to handwritten, etc.
I've been on tube trains when the driver has done exactly that. "Ladies and gents a known beggar has just boarded the 4th car. Please don't give him any money. Oh, he's gone into the 5th car now. Ah, he's decided to leave. Mind the doors please..."People encourage them by giving to them. I'd be making announcements not to if I was the driver & hopefully TOCs suffering from this will start advertising not to via the PIS screens.
That's good to hear mate.I've been on tube trains when the driver has done exactly that. "Ladies and gents a known beggar has just boarded the 4th car. Please don't give him any money. Oh, he's gone into the 5th car now. Ah, he's decided to leave. Mind the doors please..."
On the odd occasion I've had that one my approach has been to say I don't have any change but I'll happily buy them a ticket from a TVM in exchange for the cash they've got.Had the "I am a pound short for my fare" at Cardiff Central from a man who sounded and looked genuine.I believed him and gave him a pound.On my return a few hours later he was still at it!
I've encountered that at London termini. Like you, I feel sympathetic and, on a number of occasions, have offered to buy the 'stranded' person a ticket but, funnily enough, they always disappear on the way to the booking office.
Maybe one day I'll meet someone who calls my bluff because they know how to get a refund on an unused ticket...
Considering the amount of time it would take to get a refund of a ticket and the fact that large amounts of refund requests will attract suspicion it seems a very cost ineffective way of getting money unless the ticket itself is expensive and people aren't going to buy strangers expensive tickets
I'm sure BTP are well aware of it. Whether they achieve anything meaningful about it (the "sorted" bit) is another matter.
It seems to be spreading again at traffic signals in London as well. The organisers seem to be traffic engineers, as they identify those with the longest red times.
You do have to wonder, if they are so under-resourced to achieve anything meaningful, why therefore they have launched on such an extensive publicity campaign about their abilities.you have to take into consideration that the BTP is like many police forces around the country at the moment and are pretty chronically understaffed
Perhaps in the interests of self preservation. The threat of being disbanded and merged into existing local forces, with the inevitable cutbacks that would be involved, has been hanging over them for years and the government is constantly searching for things to cut.You do have to wonder, if they are so under-resourced to achieve anything meaningful, why therefore they have launched on such an extensive publicity campaign about their abilities.
Had the "I am a pound short for my fare" at Cardiff Central from a man who sounded and looked genuine.I believed him and gave him a pound.On my return a few hours later he was still at it!