Call to ban windscreen washers at traffic lights
A COUNCILLOR has called for a crackdown on beggars who target motorists waiting at Birmingham traffic lights.
The women – believed to be Eastern European – often loiter at several busy junctions in the city and clean drivers’ windscreens unprompted while the lights are red before demanding cash.
Now a Birmingham councillor has called for police to take action on the “aggressive begging”.
Cllr Des Flood (Con, Bartley Green) witnessed it for himself at traffic lights on the Bristol Road/ Belgrave Middleway junction.
“Suddenly, this woman ran across the busy traffic and started to clean my front windscreen, without any invitation,” he said. “She then knocked on the side windscreen for payment and repeated to knock on the window as I tried to ignore her. My grandchildren became upset and started crying. She only stopped when the lights turned to green and the traffic started to move.”
He added: “The police are trying their best to deal with this issue, but the mere sight of a police car sends these women running away, endangering their own lives and potentially causing a serious crash. The police need the support of other agencies, including the city council’s anti-social behaviour teams.
“I believe these women are being exploited and are being used by illegal gangs to obtain money – another form of modern day slavery.
“It’s also not a great advert for our city, especially on a main arterial route. What impression does this give of our city?”
Police are aware of the issue and two years ago staged a crackdown on roadside windscreen washing gangs.
It followed complaints from motorists at the Belgrave Middleway spot, as well as in Hagley Road, near the Plough and Harrow hotel, in Edgbaston.
At the time police said the gangs made up to £70 a day through the practice.
West Midlands Police said motorists could solve the issue by not paying them.