Is it illegal to give homeless ...

areia

money or food .....Is there any written law, while i know it's discouraged is it actually illegal to do so.


so for example if a policeman asks me not can i tell him I can if I want or have to do as he asks

Nick_C

It is illegal for people to beg.

It is not illegal for you to give money to beggars, merely foolish.

cabbage

I gave big issue seller a mcdonald's free drink collection card yesterday but I won't give money. At least she could go and have a warm drink and perhaps read the free papers.

Valli

cabbage wrote: »

I gave big issue seller a mcdonald's free drink collection card yesterday but I won't give money. At least she could go and have a warm drink and perhaps read the free papers.

Someone selling the Big Issue is not begging for money though!

kathy40uk

Also remember that a lot of beggars are not actually homeless

cabbage

Valli wrote: »

Someone selling the Big Issue is not begging for money though!

That's correct. She looked like she could do with a hot drink. She definitely wasn't begging and was very polite when I said no to buying a big issue.

Johnnytwostep

It should be illegal, you are just encouraging them to be visible on the streets, and i would rather not have to walk past them on the way to work.

lulu_92

Johnnytwostep wrote: »

It should be illegal, you are just encouraging them to be visible on the streets, and i would rather not have to walk past them on the way to work.

Walking past them or not, the problem of homelessness will exist regardless?

Not that I condone begging.

SailorSam

Nick_C wrote: »

It is not illegal for you to give money to beggars, merely foolish.

I think it's very kind of the Op.

Did i say ?
I'm poor. All money gratefully received.

RuthnJasper

SailorSam wrote: »

I think it's very kind of the Op.

Did i say ?
I'm poor. All money gratefully received.

I'd rather give the disadvantaged something to eat or drink, or maybe a new pair of socks; something they can use.

I'll sing for money... or send you a signed photo of the dog

Seriously though; it must be unbelievably awful being homeless. Just horrendous. Even if I can't afford to give them anything, I always try and look them in the eyes and give them a heartfelt smile. There, but for the grace of god...

soolin

kathy40uk wrote: »

Also remember that a lot of beggars are not actually homeless

Our local beggar lives on a fairly nice estate and has chosen to beg as a lifestyle choice, he gets a fair bit of money merely by sitting huddled up in a hoodie and sleeping bag with a darling little dog. The police have stopped him begging, but they can't stop people giving him money as they pass.

Then twice a say he goes to a local street, uses his nice smart phone to call his dealer who arrives by car, buys just enough drugs to be counted as 'for personal use' and after a meal goes back to beg again.

He is known to the police, he has been filmed buying drugs on numerous occasions, we locals are fed up with him, and apparently the police can do nothing .