Is Begging Legal in Scotland
Andy Neal, chief executive of Essential Edinburgh, said: “We want to make begging illegal on the streets of Edinburgh and support that by helping those who feel the need to beg. Our experience suggests that the majority of beggars are respectful, needy and grateful for help. We found few examples of aggressive begging. Some people say that begging is a choice. Edward, who is also an alcoholic, disagrees. “Begging destroys the soul,” he says. “If I had a place where I felt safe, I wouldn`t do this.” Begging is a reportable offence under section 3 of the Vagrancy Act 1824 (as amended). Anyone who sleeps in a public place or begs for money can be arrested. Although begging is illegal, it is not punishable by imprisonment under the law. (But people are put in jail for begging, for the antisocial behavior injunction regulation, for the civil justice system, for the district courts.) He said begging fosters “social dysfunction” and is littered with drug addicts and alcoholics. People can spend a lot of time begging on the street, which can mean spending less time providing support and connecting with homeless workers. There are a range of services in Glasgow that provide accommodation, food, clothing and assistance. No one offers alcohol or drugs.
For more information on begging rights in England, see: www.politics.co.uk/reference/begging Mr Neal said: “The police can only move beggars if they break another law. Unless they are abusive or aggressive, the police have little power. We are trying to balance the carrot and the stick. Create new laws and support those begging in the streets. Of course, there are people who have real difficulties, and I`m sorry for how they end up on the street in a pretty horrible state. Our goal would be to help them by recruiting the support of charities that specialize in caring for these people. “We believe that an inter-agency approach is best suited to address begging, so that the underlying causes of begging can be addressed in the first place.” A spokesperson said: “For anyone who begs aggressively, a number of existing criminal laws can be used to prosecute them. There is a complex relationship between begging and homelessness. And the solutions are not about sweeping people off the streets. A: There are no regulations prohibiting begging in all of Edinburgh. The police can use existing powers, such as violating peace laws, to reprimand aggressive beggars.
Last year, our street team encountered people without shoes or jackets begging in bad weather. We provided good winter boots and warm jackets just to find the person without these items when we returned. For some beggars without shoes or coats, larger donations may be generated. “Over the years, the law has been used to add a touch of legal responsibility to outdated and repressive social attitudes,” allowing its proponents to make a fictitious link between street sleeping/begging and “immoral/reprehensible” practices, to perpetuate state-sanctioned criminalization of homeless or beggars. In short, the criminalization of poverty. Some homeless charities estimate that up to 80% of beggars use the money to buy drugs or alcohol. Drug and alcohol use has a significant impact on people`s health and beggars who donate money can do more harm than good and cause their death. Our experience in Glasgow shows that three-quarters of the indigenous population who beg finance their addiction to alcohol or drugs.
The vagrant law criminalizes sleeping rough and begging. The government has said that the act should be repealed. Image: Blodeuwedd/Flickr • Know the law: If you were begging in England or Wales, you could be arrested. In Scotland, you can be charged if your behaviour is aggressive or antisocial. If you are charged, seek legal advice. • Getting housing: If you`re homeless, get free legal advice from Shelter or a local legal centre – find out if you can appeal the decision to not find housing. • Clarify your benefits: Most day centers have walk-in sessions or can refer you to counselors. • Get help with addictions: Ask around to find the best options for you (there are many on the list) and ask for a recommendation. If that doesn`t work, try another service. Not everyone is the same. • Ask for additional support: Perhaps additional services such as friendship or mentoring might work. “Shoppers just want to avoid them while avoiding the store.
We also know that the hotels have received feedback from guests from different cultures and nationalities who have said they are upset about seeing begging and think there are other crimes or activities in the underworld that they should be afraid of. Despite a relative decline in law enforcement, these “crimes” have survived 196 years, based on the simplistic and discriminatory principle that street homeless and/or beggars can legitimately be considered actual or potential criminals. There is also concern that enforcement actions in one region may simply shift street activities to another geographic area and sometimes lead to increased activity (e.g., from begging to workplace crime). Also, it does not address the underlying causes of poor sleep. Begging in a public place is a criminal offence, and the beggar may be arrested for committing such an offence. If you see a police officer or community assistant nearby, let them know or call your local police (via 101) and let them know the location and a description of the person begging. According to Simon Community Scotland, who runs the Rough Sleepers and Vulnerable Person`s Service (RSVP) for the homeless in Glasgow, there is no direct link between begging and homelessness. In a June survey, only nine out of 42 beggars in the city centre lacked housing. But the way they see it, there are clear reasons why people end up begging.
It`s a sunny evening in Glasgow and Edward begs just metres from Rogano, a chic Glasgow oyster bar in the city centre. He says his Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), which was first given after he injured his back in 2005, was scrapped last year. Begging is perfectly legal in Scotland, unlike the rest of the UK. You cannot be stopped or asked to leave a public space if you are seen peacefully begging in a city centre. Only aggressive begging is punishable in Scotland. The Scottish Government abolished the Vagrancy Act of 1824 in 1982 when it passed the Civic Government Act. In recent years, various Scottish cities, including Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, have talked about changing the law to make begging illegal again. Some private companies and companies are campaigning to make begging illegal in Scotland`s major cities, believing it makes the city “unattractive” to buyers. The Vagrancy Act came into force in 1824 after the end of the Napoleonic Wars, leaving many soldiers dismissed and penniless, begging on the streets without work or housing. The law covers a number of measures, but the main one is Article 4, which refers to “persons who commit certain crimes and who are considered villains and vagrants”. It criminalizes sleep and begging. Scotland repealed the Vagrancy Act 1982, but it is still widely used in England and Wales.
A recent freedom of information investigation found that 6,518 people were convicted under the law between 2014 and 2017. Penalties can range from a fine to six months in prison. The question of whether or not to give money to beggars is a personal decision. Some argue that giving money can be crippling and harmful to people, or even cause their death. For others, it`s about recognizing and responding to a desperate situation in which members of our community find themselves. MEV Brown, a SUPPORT employee, who has worked with homeless people in Edinburgh for a decade, said he would support the decision to ban begging on the streets. She became homeless after losing an apartment rental and started begging to survive. The English-born beggar was too shy to reveal many details of her life, but called a decision to ban the practice “absolutely ridiculous.” Homeless charity Edinburgh Cyrenians, which helps 3,000 people a year overcome poverty and find shelter, said a blanket ban on begging was the symptoms, not the disease. Scotland has a big heart and this compassion for the most disadvantaged people in our community is something we admire every day. Many people want to help and often spend time chatting with beggars and donating food and drink. For some of these people on the street, this recognition of the people who care about them is a great affirmation in a world where they are invisible most of the time.
A: Edinburgh has a number of charities that work to promote homelessness, poverty and ultimately begging on the streets.
