Birmingham Council is pressing on with plans to tackle ‘aggressive begging’ in the city centre as frustrated businesses call for change. The authority is proposing aggressive/intrusive begging is added to a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) set to be renewed this month.
The PSPO deals with groups/gangs, alcohol/substance misuse and graffiti. But the council said new anti-social issues that fell outside the scope of the current order – including aggressive begging – had become more prevalent.
It also wants to address urination and defecation in public places as well as the improper disposal of drug paraphernalia. A council report, published ahead of a cabinet meeting next week, said the vast majority of people who responded to a public consultation agreed with the prohibitions being proposed for the order.
READ MORE: When your area’s bin collection is set to go fortnightly as council plans major changes
A business in Birmingham said in its statement that it received negative feedback because its guests complained “they are begged to when they get off the train or walk up to the hotel when they first arrive in the morning”. “All these issues are on our doorstep and what guests see when they arrive in Birmingham, all of which have a negative effect on the city and our business,” they said.
Another business complained it was ‘inundated with beggars and thieves’. The Central Business Improvement District (BID) wrote: “Many individuals will sit outside the businesses and beg, smoke drugs and drink alcohol openly within a PSPO area which forbids such actions.
“This will often end in the person collapsing on the floor through drink or drugs and ambulance and police having to be called to attend. This is very upsetting for the businesses and the staff and has a negative effect on the area and the visitors, making it a very unpleasant place to work and visit”.
One person who responded to the consultation said: “I have often felt intimidated to give money to people begging in the city centre who approach you near cashpoints or near doorways to supermarkets”. In the report, the council said it recognised the causes of begging could be complicated and visitors were likely to encounter people who asked for money via begging in places with high-footfall.
Birmingham City Council House.
(Image: Copyright Unknown)
“Some of these people will be vulnerable and need assistance from various organisations to address physical or mental health conditions and access safe accommodation,” it said. “Multi-agency teams and charities can support these individuals and refer them to services to address these needs.”
But it said aggressive begging could be “intimidating and frightening” in other instances. “This proposal would seek to prevent intrusive begging e.g. those who mingle in crowds, invade personal space, and ask for money.
“In particular, the PSPO could be used to restrict occasions or areas where any form of begging would not be allowed, such as high-profile events. Complaints have been received about intrusive or aggressive begging at places such as the Frankfurt Christmas Market and the manner in which the begging is performed causes alarm or distress.”
The report said there were limited enforcement powers available and the introduction of new PSPOs provided the opportunity and flexibility to combat antisocial behaviour issues in an “effective and targeted way”. “No other options offer the same level of beneficial outcomes,” it said.
The report recommended the council’s cabinet notes the outcome of the public consultation with a view to introduce the renewal of the PSPO at a meeting on Tuesday, January 21.