Police Crackdown On Beggars In Bangor

Police in Bangor have launched a crackdown to tackle the problems of persistent begging. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Over recent months officers have received numerous complaints from shopkeepers and residents regarding aggressive and intimidating behaviour by beggars in the Upper Bangor and City Centre areas. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sergeant Dana Baxter from the Safer Neighbourhood Team, based at Bangor Police Station said: “Begging is something we receive regular complaints about from the public and shopkeepers. The general problem in and around the Bangor area revolves around a few individuals but for everybody involved it is a real concern. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We often get calls about aggressive behaviour by beggars – who are often abusive and are generally anti-social. Foul language is used and members of the public claim they often feel intimidated when stood by cash machines. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Many of the beggars claim they are given large sums of cash, which is often used to fund a habit, which in itself then causes an issue for police. Help has been offered to many, such as assistance with housing but this is often refused. Gaining money by begging means they are not engaging with services that are there to help them with their long-term complex issues. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am sure a lot of people who are giving cash are doing so in good faith, not understanding where that money goes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“If people feel the need to donate there are many charities in and around the Bangor area – such as foodbanks and volunteering opportunities with the homeless. This can help avoid the risk of the money obtained from begging being misused, something that has become an ongoing issue in recent months.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sergeant Baxter said it was important to distinguish between the beggars and those who were genuinely homeless. She added: “We do see people who are genuinely homeless but you won’t see them begging and they don’t impact on the community the same as the beggars do. Many of them claim to be ex-servicemen but we know that this isn’t the case.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Over recent weeks officers have carried out operations involving officers in plain clothes to try and target the minority who are causing concern in the local community. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sergeant Baxter added: “Unfortunately all it takes is a few persistent individuals to create an unwelcoming environment, causing a nuisance and intimidating members of the community. It must be remembered that begging is an offence and we take the concerns of residents and businesses seriously.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ian Jones, Town Clerk at Bangor City Council said: “The City Council is pleased to see that North Wales Police has taken the concerns of residents seriously and are pursuing this excellent initiative within the City. In today’s society we do have many genuine homeless people and it is unfortunate that these other people carrying out aggressive begging behaviour has caused such concern and threats to ordinary folk going about their business. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are trying to promote the City as a good place to live, work, study and shop so we appreciate any measures implemented to achieve that aim.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Help is available to those that are in need. Donations to foodbanks can be made via Bangor Cathedral. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Anybody who witnesses aggressive or intimidating behaviour by beggars should contact North Wales Police on 101. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​