Campaign Launched to Tackle Begging in Leeds
"Think Before You Give" campaign has been launched urging residents and visitors to Leeds not to give to beggars in the City. Instead, donations are being encouraged through a dedicated text number to ensure that all donations are used to provide meaningful support to the homeless.
The campaign forms part of an initiative led by the Leeds City Council Safer Partnership and West Yorkshire Police. Inspector Nick Berry told Radio Aire “If people think that giving that cash to a homeless person is going to be detrimental to them and gives them encouragement not to move away from that lifestyle choice then we think it’s fair to say to people that there is an alternative.”
Together, they are working with supporting partners including BCAIL (Businesses Against Crime in Leeds), St Anne’s Community Services, Crime Reduction Initiative Leeds Outreach and St Georges Crypt to inform the public why giving money directly to beggars is not the best way to help.
The campaign aims to highlight how public money given to beggars on the street may be used to fund an addiction or as income by ‘Professional beggars’.
Chris Wilson from St Georges Crypt said:
“The majority of people in Leeds actually have their own tenancies and benefits in place. There is no real reason to beg, other than to use the money for other things and for other means.” The campaign also aims to highlight the numerous support services that are available to aid those who are homeless in the city.