Is Begging Legal In The Uk?

[youngmafbog]

Because if not it should be.

What a piece of scum this savage is. Lets hope the justice system doesnt let us down on this one, this one needs locking up for years.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6647777/Fake-homeless-man-raped-woman-57-tried-help-him.html

[spathiphyllum]

England & Wales. Begging is illegal under the Vagrancy Act of 1824. However it does not carry a jail sentence and is not well enforced in many cities

[youngmafbog]

So my next question is why is it not enforced.

I continually see these 'beggars' right next to cash machines and many of them seem far too well fed and have a fancy smart phone they 'play on' whist begging. Why dont plod come down hard on them?

[spathiphyllum]

Well.. where are the plod? Surely actually doing relevant police work. Moving along beggers is not top of their priorities especially due to cuts and less plod being on the street.

Some beggars rely on the public to eat (granted not all) this may be a reason why.

It is more enforced on public transport.

[spathiphyllum]

Also, you have to be caught in the act surely? I assume most beggars quieten down when plod come along.

[youngmafbog]

"Some beggars rely on the public to eat (granted not all) this may be a reason why. "

So this justifies aggressive begging next to people using cash machines does it? An interesting point of view you seem to have, not sure I agree.

[spathiphyllum]

No that's not what i was saying. I don't agree with aggressive begging at all.

[spathiphyllum]

This is a recent article from late last year

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-45301449

If you've got nothing in life you're not going to care are you, and if you can only survive by begging, then you'll still do so regardless of the law.

[hc4361]

He won't be locked up for begging, though - he will be punished for rape and rightly so.
Two different issues - not all beggars are rapists and not all rapists are beggars.

How would you deal with beggars? Fine them, send them to prison?

[TonyV]

I still see lots when I visit Leicester

[spathiphyllum]

In my eyes, if i was homeless, why not try get a cell, bed, meals and warmth lol maybe even a TV.

[hc4361]

I was shocked at the high number of beggars in Bath earlier this year.

[ladybirder]

If we stopped giving them money and gave to charities for the homeless it would stop.

[jno]

all the beggars down our street sit watching HDTVs while their valets bring them caviar on toast. Sometimes I wonder if they're actually poor at all. But beggars who rape should get the same sentences as rich men who rape (though in reality I imagine the latter hire good lawyers and don't get sentenced at all).

[hc4361]

A homeless man in my local area was killed just a few days ago when he was set alight by two men with lighter fluid whilst sleeping.
Fake beggars are a scourge but that some people genuinely need to beg is heartbreaking.

[EDDIE51]

'Aggressive' begging is illegal. Pestering people for cash . Just sitting with a collecting box is OK.

[youngmafbog]

"How would you deal with beggars? Fine them, send them to prison?"

For those who are not on the bones of their *** yes.

For those that need help no - help them.

[spathiphyllum]

YMB, if you look at my news link, you'll see beggers who are arrested, when set free find themselves exactly where they were.

Sending them to prison or arresting them does nothing but prolongs the period until they're next begging.

There is already strain on our prisons if they're not a danger to society why arrest them?

obvs this rapist is a massive danger to society though.. ^^ in the op.

[hc4361]

I don't think fining a beggar would do much good and our prisons are full to bursting point already. Save prison space for more serious offences.

Perhaps community service with a meal thrown in would be an option.

[youngmafbog]

"YMB, if you look at my news link, you'll see beggers who are arrested, when set free find themselves exactly where they were."

So by your logic then we might as well not arrest any burglars (not that plod seem to bother any more) or any other criminal for that matter as they will only go on to reoffend.

Right-oh.

[youngmafbog]

The problem is the term beggar.

There are many, as shown here, who do not need to beg. They are still beggars but clearly not on the bones of their *** so not 'down and out' if you like.

We are talking about those on this thread - see the OP.