Begging for more gardai
Appeal to stop aggressive atm cash demands
CALLS have been made for more gardai to stop aggressive begging around ATMS and pubs.
The practice has become so common in Dublin it’s the biggest complaint tourists have about visiting the city.
Failte Ireland said holidaymakers have reported being forcefully pestered for their cash.
Dublin councillor Daithi de Roiste wants more gardai on the ground to stop gangs trying to intimidate people for their money.
He said: “This isn’t just Failte Ireland saying this, we commissioned a report as part of the joint policing committee project and what it said from its 500 respondents, was 82% of Dubliners were saying begging is on the increase.
FIGURES
“The facts and figures show that in 2017 aggressive begging was up 200%.”
Mr de Roiste added there are two types of people asking for money.
The Fianna Fail man told Newstalk Breakfast: “There’s professional begging that is being run by Eastern European gangs who can be very aggressive at ATMS.
“And then there’s what we think is people on the streets due to social circumstances with alcohol or drugs or other problems.
“Those two strands need to be tackled very differently, a carrot and stick type approach.
“We need the carrot for those on the street because of bad circumstances.
“And the stick for the professionals who have organised begging right across the city. I think there needs to be a task force set up on this, using gardai, DCC, the HSE, and Government. For aggressive begging we need guards on the street.”
Two cabbies also told 98FM they’ve seen tourists and OAPS get hassled as they’re seen as more vulnerable.
One driver Ed said: “You get professionals out there now. I’d see them coming into town and being dropped at their different sites to beg. They’re unbelievably aggressive. If you don’t give them money you’re pushed or shoved. They go for your bag, I’ve got them at the rank.
“I’d be the first person to put my hand in my pocket to help someone who is down on their luck. But now I say ‘No’.
“I’ve had to separate tourists from beggars. They say, ‘No’ so they get pushed and shoved, some of them try to steal their luggage.”