Vicar blasts council over town centre begging ban
CLERGYMAN SAYS ARGUMENT THAT HOMELESS IN ROCHDALE AREN’T GENUINE IS AN ‘URBAN MYTH’
A CONTROVERSIAL town centre begging ban proposed by Rochdale council has been criticised by a leading clergyman.
The Rev Mark Coleman, Vicar of Rochdale, has labelled plans to fine beggars flawed – and dismisses the argument that their need isn’t genuine as ‘urban myth.’
The cleric has called on council chiefs to change the proposals before they come into force. They form part of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) – which was approved last month in a crackdown on anti-social behaviour in Rochdale town centre. Street drinking, skateboarding, unauthorised charity collectors – known as ‘chuggers’ – playing loud music, loudly revving car engines, ‘anti-social parking’ and loitering are also set to be outlawed under the PSPO, which proposes that beggars be warned, moved on and fined.
Council chiefs insist research shows most of the people begging in Rochdale town centre are ‘not homeless,’ but acknowledge it is a ‘sensitive issue.’
But The Rev Coleman, who ministers to the homeless in Rochdale, said the vast majority of people who beg ‘are poor and leading precarious lives.’
“Whilst I am grateful to all who are working to regenerate, and smarten the town centre, I believe this policy is flawed”, he said in a statement.
“The thinking behind this order seems to be that begging may not be genuine, and may be ‘aggressive,’ and is therefore to be classed as ‘anti-social behaviour.’
“Of course there may be beggars who are secretly wealthy – I have not met any yet – but we cannot base our laws on urban myths.
“It is a fact that most people who beg are poor and leading precarious lives.”
Mark Widdup, director of neighbourhoods at Rochdale council, said: “We work with a number of homelessness charities and Greater Manchester Police in Rochdale town centre and the evidence we have is that the majority of beggars in Rochdale have accommodation, or have been offered support and refused it.
“We are aware that this is a sensitive issue for our residents and people are understandably concerned about the plight of people on the streets.”
He added: “Each person who is on the street will be approached by a team of officers from the council, GMP and partner organisations and offered an intensive support and intervention package to help them build a life away from the streets.
“The council is also actively supporting the Big Change campaign, which encourages people to donate money online at bigchangerochdale.co.uk, rather than giving directly to beggars. All money donated is shared between local homelessness charities.
“Our officers are highly trained and decisions on whether to hand out fixed penalty notices will be made on a case by case basis.”
Their priority ‘will be to offer support and advice,’ Mr Widdup added.