Beggars on the high street

The place for serious discussion, announcements and breaking news about Sydenham
maestro
Posts: 1157
Joined: 27 Jun 2008 16:32
Location: 2nd most struck UK bridge

Re: Beggars on the high street

Post by maestro »

rod taylor wrote:Harassing people on the street is an effective way to build a small business. I'd like to see all the Cafe and Restaurant owners on Sydenham Road out on the pavement carrying menus like they do in the tourist spots of Southern Europe.
The only place I ever saw touting being done here in the UK was in Brick Lane, it's now illegal as some clearly took it too far.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/t ... 57631.html

I used to ignore the ones where they were desperately touting to get customers into their empty places and head for the one or two where they never had to tout because the standard of food was so good their restaurants were always busy.
Sideofham
Posts: 50
Joined: 10 May 2017 05:50
Location: Kirkdale village
Contact:

Re: Beggars on the high street

Post by Sideofham »

Recently when I was walking up Sydenham High Rd a beggar was asking for money and he said to me, 'Sir,I
have Asked for money, I have Begged for money, I have Cried 4 money, I have also Danced for money'.
I asked him, 'young man why pray tell haven't you Worked for money?' and he replied, 'I am doing it alphabetically. I have not yet reached W’…I gave him 50p for the pure cheek of it.
Eagle
Posts: 10658
Joined: 7 Oct 2004 06:36
Location: F Hill

Re: Beggars on the high street

Post by Eagle »

I believe by offloading some of their dubious publications their income made up by tax credits. That was not the intention of the system.

I am all for EU folk to come here and do proper jobs but not sponge on the system.
stuart
Posts: 3635
Joined: 21 Sep 2004 10:13
Location: Lawrie Park
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Re: Beggars on the high street

Post by stuart »

Eagle wrote:I believe by offloading some of their dubious publications their income made up by tax credits.
Oooh Eagle - Such disrespect would have got you hung drawn and quartered. Shouldn't you be tug'n yer forelock to the Sydenham representative of the Tory Peer of the Realm anointed by your very own Her Maj: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bird,_Baron_Bird

Stuart :)
syd-gal
Posts: 223
Joined: 28 Nov 2016 15:38
Location: Sydenham

Re: Beggars on the high street

Post by syd-gal »

Not Sydenham area, but there is a young guy with a didgeridoo who 'camps out' in the entrance to the old M & Co in Forest Hill, and on two separate occasions this week, people have offered him a pack of sandwiches they had just bought in Sainsbury's and he said he didn't want them. Today he said to the person "I won't eat them, but I'd like a steak".
Eagle
Posts: 10658
Joined: 7 Oct 2004 06:36
Location: F Hill

Re: Beggars on the high street

Post by Eagle »

Seems beggars have high expectations , steak !
syd-gal
Posts: 223
Joined: 28 Nov 2016 15:38
Location: Sydenham

Re: Beggars on the high street

Post by syd-gal »

se23.life..............yes, that's the guy. So he's got a job as a chef..........hmm.... hope he doesn't eat too many steaks. I see that posting is 3 Aug so he hasn't started his job yet......maybe he didn't want to do it.

Going through that same page, I saw a few comments about the bike man - he stopped me outside Sainsbury's at Bell Green a few weeks ago, told me his bike had a puncture and could I give him money to put on his Oyster. I said no and he looked really annoyed, walked a few paces then got on his bike and rode off. No sign of any puncture.
butters
Posts: 61
Joined: 8 Jul 2016 11:36
Location: Sydenham

Re: Beggars on the high street

Post by butters »

Seeing the two women beggars on the street is both upsetting and frustrating. I don't buy the wailing with the hands clasped as not but 30 seconds after walking past them one way, they were smoking and chatting on mobile phones. I saw several people give them money in the space of a few minutes. Whether this is a way of life to make a living or they are being exploited, I really am uneasy with it and not sure what can be done?
bensonby
Posts: 1655
Joined: 18 Jun 2008 12:28
Location: Kent

Re: Beggars on the high street

Post by bensonby »

Begging is a criminal offence contrary to s.3 of The Vagrancy Act 1824. If they are persistent/aggressive then report to the police.
Pally
Posts: 1492
Joined: 2 Aug 2014 05:38
Location: Sydenham

Re: Beggars on the high street

Post by Pally »

I find it difficult to walk by the hands and wailing but I do because I don't believe the apparent situation they are in is accurate! Mobile phones and cigarettes suggest I'm right!!
Eagle
Posts: 10658
Joined: 7 Oct 2004 06:36
Location: F Hill

Re: Beggars on the high street

Post by Eagle »

Very distressing. Would never give to a beggar who was smoking or drinking. There should be no place for beggars in our United Kingdom.
Nigel
Posts: 2418
Joined: 22 May 2005 16:12
Location: Laurie Park

Re: Beggars on the high street

Post by Nigel »

Eagle
Agree , it's hard to see how they would fare under any future labour market needs points system .

As well as a mild nuisance factor I always get an uneasy sense of exploitation . I remember once seeing a German-registered white Mercedes dropping of 3 or 4 such women to beg outside Waitrose in Newmarket - I doubt their employer was overly hampered by EU working hours directives or Health and Safety regulation .its more worrying still when they have 6 year old "interns" shadowing them for work experience .

A very good afternoon
Nigel
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Eagle
Posts: 10658
Joined: 7 Oct 2004 06:36
Location: F Hill

Re: Beggars on the high street

Post by Eagle »

Nigel

This is exactly how the beggars purveying The Big Issue arrive at their designated spot

The Guy who founded , with best intentions this alleged publication should be ashamed. What was a good way of homeless Britons of getting some cash , now a way of Romanian immigrants sponging of out tax credit system.
owlwise
Posts: 230
Joined: 21 May 2012 13:54
Location: Upper Sydenham

Re: Beggars on the high street

Post by owlwise »

I appreciate your comment Stuart. I am disgusted at Eagle's IGNORAN remark about Big Issue sellers. They are not beggars.
Eagle
Posts: 10658
Joined: 7 Oct 2004 06:36
Location: F Hill

Re: Beggars on the high street

Post by Eagle »

Wise Owl.

Think you will find they are not homeless.

Without tax credits they could not survive in UK.

Anyway I will not insult you , as you have me , I am sure you are a nice person.
stuart
Posts: 3635
Joined: 21 Sep 2004 10:13
Location: Lawrie Park
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Re: Beggars on the high street

Post by stuart »

Eagle wrote:Think you will find they are not homeless. Without tax credits they could not survive in UK.
I think they are having to: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... Issue.html

Pity you can't keep these beggar my neighbour claims to the Pub with your other migrant & benefit bashing posts. Insults? I think you started it with calling all Big Issue sellers 'beggars'.

Stuart
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