MP branded ‘heartless’ over beggar criticism
MP SIMON Danczuk has been branded ‘heartless’ and ‘an inhuman disgrace’ after social media comments about beggars.
The suspended Labour MP remarked on social media site Twitter that he had seen ‘four beggars’ on a short stretch of Yorkshire Street adding: “Should at very least be moved on.”
But the comments drew fire from many people who claimed his remarks were unsympathetic. Twitter user Jane Doe said: “These people are human beings.”
Elizabeth Ammon said: “The compassion is just oozing out of your every pore, isn’t it Simon?”
While furious Len Murray Tweeted: “You are an inhuman disgrace.
“People do not become homeless by choice. And a coffee and a sandwich costs at most £5, nothing to you.”
However the MP has defended his remarks – and says he was trying to draw attention to police ‘losing control’ of Rochdale town centre – claiming officers aren’t doing enough to tackle begging and antisocial behaviour.
The MP said he counted four people begging in a stretch a couple of hundred yards long in the town centre last week and accused local officers of not tackling illegal begging, despite his – and the town hall’s – calls to address the issue.
When someone questioned why he ‘walked past’ those begging, Mr Danczuk replied: “I help dozens of people with their housing problems at my surgery.
“Begging needs police intervention.”
He highlighted that his comments were specifically about beggars, not rough sleepers, adding: “These crimes - begging, antisocial behaviour and shoplifting - are often being left unpoliced.
“There are some crimes police actually avoid prosecuting. Rochdale town centre is being redeveloped, but that will be for nothing if GMP doesn’t get a grip on these crimes.
“The town is being let down. It is GMP’s duty and responsibility to act.
“Officers should be challenging beggars - some of whom aggressively beg - by moving them on and directing them to relevant services.
“People who are begging clearly need help, but they shouldn’t sat on the street asking for money, it’s not acceptable.”
But Supt Alistair Mallen, from GMP’s Rochdale borough, denied this, adding: “We have a dedicated team that works in the town centre to tackle issues, including anti-social behaviour such as street beggars and street drinkers.
“We have issued a number of warning letters to individuals and made several arrests in relation to begging.
“We will not be complacent and will continue to make anti-social behaviour a priority in the town centre.”
Mr Danczuk’s comments came after he called for a parliamentary debate on town centre policing in Rochdale.
Speaking in the House of Commons last Thursday he said: “Greater Manchester Police are losing control of Rochdale town centre.
“Not enough priority is being given to policing begging, street drinking, antisocial behaviour and shoplifting.
“Surely that warrants a debate in Parliament.”
He previously criticised the police presence in the area as ‘woefully inadequate’ and said that GMP needed to do more to tackle crime in the town centre. ●●MP Simon Danczuk defended his remarks that police were not doing enough to tackle begging and anti-social behaviour in the town centre