Do You Have Gangs

[tamaris]

Of professional beggars on your streets. In the SE we are inundated. The police know about them but don't seem to be doing anything about it. They are dropped off in the morning and picked up again at night. They all have phones amd most have designer trainers. They are not homeless. They are eastern European.

[Rosie29]

Under the control of a "slavemaster" perhaps.

[jakep]

Not in our town, as yet.
We have a gentleman who relies on drugs and a lady who relies on alcohol, both unfortunately genuine.

[emmie]

yes loads, London is chocca with them.

[ummmm]

No, not that I've seen anyway.

[davebro]

Not around here - just a few home-grown. If people didn't give they might go away (probably resort to stealing tho').

[emmie]

gangs of them have been targeted on the tube, where they dip handbags, many have been caught, but for some reason you don't hear of them being deported.
can't understand that part at all.

[mushroom25]

what's the future for begging in a cashless society? how many of the genuinely dispossessed will be able to afford terminals for contactless card payments or apple-pay?

[pastafreak]

I...sort of...get the eastern European bit.
But phones and trainers can mean nothing. A phone is necessary for any contact with support agencies, and designer trainers *sometimes* get donated to charities like ours...along with other good quality garments.

We don't seem to have groups like this down here...but I do sometimes see individuals who don't look "authentic" ;)

[Zacs-Master]

What do your local candidates for the GE intend to do about it? Maybe a vote swinger, if you’re (as you seem to be, and as I would be) concerned.

[emmie]

my local MP is Keir Stamer, enough said

[mallyh]

we don't have the gangs but a lot of homeless drug addicts etc, it break my heart as my son has been there a few times and to see them is awful .

[pastafreak]

It's heart breaking, isn't it mally? We see so many that are back and forth in the system. They're on what appears to be deaths door, and all the stops are pulled out for them. Housing, rehab...you name it. They go...come back a new person. Then within weeks all the good has been undone. And the cycle starts all over again.

[mallyh]

pastafreak you are so right that's exactly what happens x

[pastafreak]

Stand by him, mally. I think family support means a lot to the few who get it x

[mallyh]

we have stepped back as he needs to do it himself,if we help him he just ask for more and more I still have contact with him though x

[pastafreak]

I understand...it has to come from within him. Best wishes x

[naomi24]

//for some reason you don't hear of them being deported.
can't understand that part at all. //

Can people from EU countries be deported?

[tamaris]

Good point Naomi

[mallyh]

when they come here don't they have to supply proof they can support themselves ?

[anneasquith]

Malaya. You must find it heartbreaking to read these types of threads. You unfortunately know the circumstances when you and your family are concerned. I hope your son stays safe and well and warm .