Homeless man brought to court after asking for 10p

[TomandJerry]

"UNDERCOVER police are being sent out to catch homeless people begging with more than one arrested every week.

Rough sleepers are being criminalised by Sussex Police operations to arrest and prosecute those living on the streets and desperate for small change.

The tactics have come under fire by critics who have questioned the “pointless system” that costs the taxpayer thousands of pounds and sees beggars fined hundreds of pounds only to have to go back on the streets.

In a recent case magistrates questioned the public interest in taking to court a rough sleeper who asked for ten pence in the street.

He is just one of more than 16 defendants called before Brighton Magistrates’ Court in the past two months. A total of 62 were arrested last year.

The cases will have cost the public purse more than £16,000."

Ridiculous waste of money and time

 

[Geestar]

And what is their punishment? A night inside with a meal?

 

[CHAPPERS]

A homeless guy told me on Saturday he got locked up for accepting 23p from someone as I gave him a ciggy on Saturday. I assumed he was bullshitting, seems not.

 

[happypig]

"UNDERCOVER police are being sent out to catch homeless people begging with more than one arrested every week.

Rough sleepers are being criminalised by Sussex Police operations to arrest and prosecute those living on the streets and desperate for small change.

The tactics have come under fire by critics who have questioned the “pointless system” that costs the taxpayer thousands of pounds and sees beggars fined hundreds of pounds only to have to go back on the streets.

In a recent case magistrates questioned the public interest in taking to court a rough sleeper who asked for ten pence in the street.

He is just one of more than 16 defendants called before Brighton Magistrates’ Court in the past two months. A total of 62 were arrested last year.

The cases will have cost the public purse more than £16,000."

Ridiculous waste of money and time

What's the source for this please ?

 

[Gullflyinghigh]

Where's this story come from? If it's true it seems like a monumental waste of time.

 

[8ace]

It's in the Argus

 

[studio150]

Ridiculous waste of money and time

No, the law of the land needs to be upheld or the fabric of society crumbles.

There are many people who are frightened by beggars and cross the road to avoid them, particularly if they are aggressive beggars by which I mean that they are in your face effectively demanding money.

Also you have been selective in posting the story, as in fact the report continues to comment that the Police look to arrest those that are known to have refused assistance that is available, as opposed to those that are seeking help to recover their lives.

 

[happypig]

And what is their punishment? A night inside with a meal?

If the OP is right (and I've no reason to doubt) then a court is likely to take a pragmatic approach; a conditional discharge is likely to fail if the defendant has previous so he will be fined. As he's no money, he will be ordered to serve one day court detention which means he sits at the back of the court until that session's business is concluded (or until the chairman decides to let him leave). No costs as he's no means to pay.

 

[CorgiRegisteredFriend]

'The 10p Man' is back.

 

[Albumen]

Tory Britain.

 

[beorhthelm]

Where's this story come from? If it's true it seems like a monumental waste of time.

well we have the defense lawyers version and nothing else. i wouldnt expect police in Brighton have time to round up every begger, so contrary to teh claim otherwise i wonder if this targeted against agressive beggers.

 

[8ace]

well we have the defense lawyers version and nothing else. i wouldnt expect police in Brighton have time to round up every begger, so contrary to teh claim otherwise i wonder if this targeted against agressive beggers.

Why don't you read the full story on the argus website you <mod edit> no thanks

 

[jay d]

Yep, go undercover looking for those people asking for 10p. But cut our police patroling the streets.

 

[Eeyore]

The Police are welcome to stop anyone who is aggressive in their approach to the public. But most of these folk aren't.

There are a number of homeless folk near where I work. One of them an older fellow who I had a very eye opening conversation with Saturday. Seems his life fell apart after his wife lost her life to cancer. A very warm, genuine and undemanding man. What is most upsetting is the series of comments on the usual paper's section filled with bile and ignorance. Yes, there is a problem, yes some are a pain, some perhaps a bit dangerous. But many aren't. A lot find themselves in this situation because of a rotten series of events.

Instead of seeing people as a collective scum in society perhaps we should see them as individuals. They are not criminals until they act as such- and asking for fecking ten pence is not an act of criminality. Perhaps those who convict such individuals should think about how fortunate they are when they go back to their warm homes and happy family lives.

 

[beorhthelm]

Why don't you read the full story on the argus website you

i did, hence why i know the defense lawyer was quoted, and that he says there no agressive begging (well he would do wouldnt he?).

 

[The Fifth Column]

The streets of Brighton and Hove are awash with aggressive street drinkers, smackheads and beggars quite a lot of whom fit all 3 descriptions, its not the police's job to act as social workers and solve the problem of street homeless in the city but it is their job to deal with those committing offences. The offence of begging doesn't take into account whether you are asking for 10p or £10 so that headline is totally irrelevant and come off it, what beggar only asks for 10p?! Thats utter bollox, if you give him a quid he's not going to give you 90p change is he?

So are we to make begging no longer an offence? Good luck with that then when that knowledge spreads up and down the country and the numbers of beggars increases tenfold in the city, you'll all soon be moaning then when you can't sit down outside Costas with your poncy skinny latte without legally being bothered by yet another addict trying to score enough for their next ten bag.

 

[8ace]

i did, hence why i know the defense lawyer was quoted, and that he says there no agressive begging (well he would do wouldnt he?).

The CPS spokeswoman gives her version.

 

[Justice]

No, the law of the land needs to be upheld or the fabric of society crumbles.

There are many people who are frightened by beggars and cross the road to avoid them, particularly if they are aggressive beggars by which I mean that they are in your face effectively demanding money.

Also you have been selective in posting the story, as in fact the report continues to comment that the Police look to arrest those that are known to have refused assistance that is available, as opposed to those that are seeking help to recover their lives.

Quite right time to get them in flats and charge them bedroom tax or whatever shite the Tories come up with next to fleece the poor.

 

[Triggaaar]

Why don't you read the full story on the argus website

Could you edit your post please, to make it less offensive

 

[Eeyore]

The streets of Brighton and Hove are awash with aggressive street drinkers, smackheads and beggars quite a lot of whom fit all 3 descriptions, its not the police's job to act as social workers and solve the problem of street homeless in the city but it is their job to deal with those committing offences. The offence of begging doesn't take into account whether you are asking for 10p or £10 so that headline is totally irrelevant and come off it, what beggar only asks for 10p?! Thats utter bollox, if you give him a quid he's not going to give you 90p change is he?

So are we to make begging no longer an offence? Good luck with that then when that knowledge spreads up and down the country and the numbers of beggars increases tenfold in the city, you'll all soon be moaning then when you can't sit down outside Costas with your poncy skinny latte without legally being bothered by yet another addict trying to score enough for their next ten bag.

No. But we should be a bit more discerning in the application of law. Most people who have asked me for money in Brighton, and that's every day as I work and live in the town centre, are polite with it. If ever I am bothered by it I just remind myself of the accommodating flat I am going back to and tell myself that it's a case of 'there go we...'. Aggressive approaches are not welcome, but I can only think of one in recent months. Many years ago I was assaulted by a homeless person who asked for money. It hasn't changed my view.