IT BEGGARS BELIEF

Support, Not Arrest, Is The Answer

For far too long, antisocial behaviour was treated by policymakers and
politicians as akin to bad manners, something to be regretted but about
which little could be done. The reality for millions is that their lives
can be made miserable - even in their own homes - by noise, thuggishness
and malign behaviour, such as racial and homophobic harassment, all of
which are still too prevalent in Britain. It was Jack Straw who first
pledged a 'micro' approach to improving the communities in which people
live. Litter, graffiti and bad behaviour should be targeted with 'zero
tolerance'. The former Home Secretary spoke movingly more than once about
the reality of life in his Blackburn constituency.

Now his successor is to pilot an Antisocial Behaviour Bill. Much of its
content is welcome. What is not, however, acceptable in this legislative
portmanteau are proposals to target begging, making it a recordable offence
with tougher penalties after three convictions.

Ministers claim that beggars, many of whom have a drug habit, will secure
easier access to rehabilitation. The reality is that most drugs rehab is
massively over-subscribed. Six-month waiting lists are commonplace and
police and social workers find it almost impossible to track the homeless.
Consequently, custody now risks becoming the only way to ensure that people
can be reached with certainty when help becomes available. This is an
utterly disproportionate response to the needs of a vulnerable group.

Begging is a blight, but already an offence. It should be addressed with
accessible, adequately funded support for the people involved. The
Government's proposal smacks all too starkly of the sort of high-profile
posturing that New Labour's communications experts have often told us had
been abandoned.