Should Begging Be Made Illegal?, Calls for city centre begging to be criminalised Options

[*Talisman*]

The city where it is against the law to be poor , some might find this interesting giving beggars socks instead of money .

http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thesundayedition/l...-poor-1.2943469

There are many things can't be done with donations of "socks". Buying drugs, accumulating cash reserves, living a lifestyle of no work and no responsibility.

And before there is a question of hunger; how many charities are devoted to feeding the homeless, the destitute and the hungry? In a society where welfare attracts those migrants shopping around in France for the Great British lifestyle, ask yourself what is the attraction of U.K. over other European countries; generous to a fault unearned welfare.

[angel]

There are many things can't be done with donations of "socks". Buying drugs, accumulating cash reserves, living a lifestyle of no work and no responsibility.

And before there is a question of hunger; how many charities are devoted to feeding the homeless, the destitute and the hungry? In a society where welfare attracts those migrants shopping around in France for the Great British lifestyle, ask yourself what is the attraction of U.K. over other European countries; generous to a fault unearned welfare.

I'm thinking Talisman ! that if the question of immigrants and probably refugees are the big concern regarding beggars on the city streets of Glasgow and elsewhere ,You should take that up with the Scottish Government , because , it is my understanding that Scotland is asked by the UK government if they will accept those people before they are sent to Scotland also along with the monies that are paid to help with the cost of supporting them until they can find employment . Whether that be gainful employment or otherwise , ! I for one don't know !

The reason for my post regarding Pan handing / begging in Toronto is to show that begging goes on all over this planet , not only in Glasgow and , also for what it is worth , begging has been going on in the UK/ Great Britain . since the 1500s as far as I Know .

[Betsy2009]

Aren't buskers just beggars with a musical accompaniment?
They've been around for a long time too.

[angel]

Aren't buskers just beggars with a musical accompaniment?
They've been around for a long time too.

I don't know Betsy , but maybe if the beggars start singing and dancing ,.............. that just might change the attitude towards pan handlers .

[*Tally Rand*]

Buskers in my locality and in the city of Melbourne must go before a panel to be recognized as genuine street entertainers. They are then given a licence to perform their act. The ones that do not meet the criterion can be seen banging 3 stringed wooden instruments and howling about going from Wichita to Kentucky rolled up in a blanket with a dog called Bobby M'ghee. I.E. Beggars.

[wombat]

Buskers in my locality and in the city of Melbourne must go before a panel to be recognized as genuine street entertainers. They are then given a licence to perform their act. The ones that do not meet the criterion can be seen banging 3 stringed wooden instruments and howling about going from Wichita to Kentucky rolled up in a blanket with a dog called Bobby M'ghee. I.E. Beggars.

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[angel]

Here in Toronto , buskers must apply for a permit to busk , there is a Fee but I'm not sure of the cost , I would think that the same applies in Glasgow and probably in other cities . Also , there are some rules and regulations regarding the use of public property to deal with . and if those rules are not carried out by the buskers , they will be fined .

[*Backcauseway*]

Musical entertainment by street musicians. How on earth would one of these people playing that infernal violin with a horn attached ever get a buskers licence in any town! I have not seen the guy at Clydebank Shopping Centre for a while. He stood in the underpass next ASDA to help magnify the sound of what seemed like a dozen cats howling out of tune.

[*Tally Rand*]

Here in Toronto , buskers must apply for a permit to busk ,
there is a Fee but I'm not sure of the cost ,
I would think that the same applies in Glasgow and probably
in other cities .also , there are some rules and regulations
regarding the use of public property to deal with . and
if those rules are not carried out by the buskers , they will be fined .

I have just read an old article in the Sunday Post describing a beggar with a card scanner to take donations from credit cards and other methods of electronic funds transfers. This was also reported as taking place in London.

You have to hand it to those "beggars" preparing themselves for the "cashless society". Has this raised its' ugly head in Toronto???

[angel]

I have just read an old article in the Sunday Post describing a beggar with a card scanner to take donations from credit cards and other methods of electronic funds transfers. This was also reported as taking place in London.

You have to hand it to those "beggars" preparing themselves for the "cashless society". Has this raised its' ugly head in Toronto???

...............................

I have read about the cashless society but I don't know if there are beggars who use this system , but I'm thinking that a card scanner may help some beggars from being mugged .

I did however read about a man who tells the beggar that he only has a dollar bill and does he " i.e beggar " have change .

[carmella]

Not everyone who begs is poor, some of those 'poor beggars' are making a fortune by pretense, then going back to their homes at the end of the day.

Very few of the beggars do it because they have no other choice. I never take what I see at face value, because there are some hellish good actors around.

[*Talisman*]

Not everyone who begs is poor, some of those 'poor beggars' are making a fortune by pretense, then going back to their homes at the end of the day.

Very few of the beggars do it because they have no other choice. I never take what I see at face value, because there are some hellish good actors around.

I can only at this time give figures from England, although I have seen reports in extracts of Scottish newspapers, of a begging epidemic in Glasgow scaring visitors and discouraging tourism, where according to Thames Reach, a charity involved in providing shelter and rehabilitating the homeless, that 80% of all street beggars are using begging to supplement their ability to access class A drugs. They also assert that the majority of money going to beggars goes straight to the maintenance and spreading of the drug trade.

This I would say is a prime example of "negative" good. They also maintain that 60% or more of all street beggars have homes to go to at the end of the day. And as this charity is primarily geared to providing for genuine homeless and bereft, they are not happy at beggars who beg to supplement their social security payments to promote the drug trade.

I don't give out internet addresses for obvious security reasons (I.E. danger of accessing an unacknowledged site) but if you look up article pertaining to Thames Reach; drugs you will be given the facts. Mainly for England.

[carmella]

Thank you for your reply. I do know that some beg because they feel they have no other choice, but I have also heard stories from credible sources, that there are people who don't need to beg at all because they live in nice homes and drive nice cars etc. they find their pitch and pretend to be begging, easy money and I know this to be true.
I don't wish to cast doubt on the 'real' people who need to beg, if that's what they have to do to survive then that's what they have to do.

[Rab]

My Mammy used to call me a cheeky wee beggar. At least I think that's what she called me!

[*Talisman*]

My Mammy used to call me a cheeky wee beggar. At least I think that's what she called me!

Had you lived in Guvin you would have been aware that it had nothing to do with "Beggar"!