Plan to ban begging at city cash machines set for vote tomorrow

CONTROVERSIAL measures to crack down on “aggressive” begging in Newport city centre could be approved by councillors tomorrow.

Beggars would be banned from asking for money within 10m of cashpoints under proposed changes to the public spaces protection order (PSPO).

The “exclusion zones”, which would be enforced by Newport Council and Gwent Police, have divided opinion.

A public consultation on the PSPO review saw 64% of people say begging near cash machines was a common problem in the city centre.

“Some respondents commented on some beggars reacting rudely or becoming verbally abusive when money was not given,” says a council report.

“Others say you cannot walk through the city centre without being approached for money or cigarettes. A small number of respondents specifically mentioned they find the begging intimidating.”

A council report says that 70% wanted the aggressive begging offence changed to “no begging”.

Liberty, an advocacy group, had written to the council describing a blanket ban as “cruel and incredibly unfair”.

A meeting of the overview and scrutiny committee in April also heard representations against such a ban from the Newport Now Business Improvement District and city homeless charity The Wallich. The council and police decided a blanket ban would not be pursued.

The begging measure is just one of several amendments proposed to the PSPO for full council votes tomorrow.

New restrictions include a ban on the use or sale of intoxicating or psychoactive substances in the city centre..