TOUGH LOVE PLAN FOR CITY BEGGARS AND HOMELESS

John Masanauskas Herald Sun March 10, 2013

Many beggars in the CBD, like this man, need a bed for the night. Picture: Jake Nowakowski Source: Herald Sun

BEGGARS who aggressively confront Melburnians and demand cash will be the main target of a fresh crackdown aimed at revitalising city streets.

A new anti-begging strategy, an initiative by the city council, police and the Salvation Army, aims to use CCTV and better co-ordinated prosecutions to step up action against professional beggars, while helping those genuinely down on their luck.
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has pleaded with Melburnians not to give to beggars, saying he is sick of citizens, especially women, being threatened by professionals.
"One involved a particular person pulling some coins out of their pocket, and the comment was something like, 'Don't you have any notes?'," he said.
"I don't think you can nominate the amount you are begging," Cr Doyle said.
Under the plan, most beggars, including the homeless and the mentally ill, would go to court where, rather than being fined, they would face a compulsory diversion program.
This would involve health checks, training, and help in finding work.
The Salvation Army's Major Brendan Nottle said the aim was to get beggars off the street compassionately.
"We want to do everything we can to get them into a lifestyle where you've got a lot more dignity than sitting on the street asking for money," he said.
Maj Nottle said that Melburnians were very generous to beggars, but he had different advice.
"One option is to say to a person, 'Come with me and I'll buy you something to eat', or direct them to places like the Salvation Army," he said.
"There's no need for people to go hungry in Melbourne."
It was vital police dealt with professional beggars. "If we don't ... the goodwill that exists amongst Melburnians towards the genuine beggars may dry up," Maj Nottle said.
Cr Doyle said welfare agencies ensured that anyone could eat three meals a day in Melbourne for free.
He warned of consequences for beggars mocking the new diversion program.
"If they just go straight back on the street, or they refuse to do any of the diversion, then eventually they are going to find themselves on that track where it may even be jail," he said.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/tough-love-plan-for-city-beggars-and-homeless/story-e6freuy9-1226594289729
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