“Give to charities not beggars” - plea as Rotherham police focus on homelessness

“THINK hard before giving beggars your cash.”

That’s the advice from the police officers behind a new campaign to stop begging in the town centre and better support those who are asking for money.

Officers from Rotherham’s Central Neighbourhood Policing Team are asking people to consider different ways they can help, such as buying people food or a drink or giving money to a homelessness charity instead.

PC Paul Jameson, who is leading the operation, said beggars put some shoppers off from visiting Rotherham town centre and the police wanted to tackle the reasons behind begging to try to put a stop to it.

They aim to work more closely with homelessness charities such as Shiloh, which is based in Masbrough, and Rotherham Borough Council to give those asking for a handout help and advice.

PC Jameson said: “The people involved in begging have chaotic lifestyles - whether that’s family issues, addiction or mental health, there’s different aspects of it. In many cases, the individuals are vulnerable.

“We are not saying: ‘Don’t give money to beggars’ - that’s not for us to do - but we are saying please consider alternative ways of supporting someone who is begging.”

PC Jameson said the number of town centre beggars had already drastically reduced - from 17 in February to around five in mid-May.

He said: “Communities in Rotherham are compassionate, caring and willing to help but are sometimes not aware that the way in which they direct their help isn’t always the most beneficial. 

“It is important for the public to know that there are beds available for those who need one in Rotherham and those you see begging in the town centre are not always homeless but have vulnerabilities which lead them to ask for money.

“I would like to urge the public to think whether giving money into a beggar’s hand is the best way to help that person and remind you that you don’t have to give cash - there are other ways to help.”

PC Jameson said some police forces had taken a different approach and had handed out fines - but that displaced the beggars elsewhere.

“The approach we have taken is, initially, one of support,” he said.

“The first time we come across begging in the town centre we highlight that it’s an offence to beg and we give them a leaflet.

“This has details of organisations like Shiloh, Liberty Church and Rotherham Foodbank - places where people can get food and support.

“We’d like people to take that support and contact these services themselves, however, if they don’t take it, and we come across them begging again, we say: ‘What’s the reason behind the begging?’.

“We ask if they have a home address and if they are claiming the benefits they are entitled to. We ask if there’s any issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“We arrange for them to have a meeting with one of our partners - and that’s the alternative to prosecuting them.”

Some people who turned to begging could be exploited by others who were begging or committing crime, said PC Jameson, who said people could do their bit by having a conversation with those asking for help, buy them some food or drink, or “volunteer at a charity that can buy them clothes or food”.

He added: “From speaking to various people and organisations, I have been amazed at the amount of support and genuine desire to help, from people providing hot drinks, meals, clothing, bedding, laundry, medical assessments and even down to hot showers for those in need.

“However, while this support is so important and a lifeline to many, longer-term issues need to be addressed, with practical support available to access housing, employment, benefits and treatment for their addictions.

“This type of support will not only help the individual but will also address the issue of begging in the town centre.”

PC Jameson said anyone caught begging aggressively - such as approaching people in the street and asking for money directly - could expect to be prosecuted.