Big Issue Wolverhampton sales points cut
Wednesday 24th November 2010, 11:30AM GMT.
The number of Big Issue selling points in Wolverhampton city centre has been halved as part of a new blitz on begging, police revealed today.
The eight sites where sellers have traditionally been allowed to trade have been reduced to four.
It comes after officers said there was a “disproportionate” number working in shopping areas. However, the hours they can work have been extended as part of a deal with the magazine distributors, and the number of sellers licensed to work at the four sites has been increased.
Police said officers and other agencies checked sellers were licensed and stuck to allotted areas.
It is part of a crackdown on begging, partly prompted by a survey in which 75 per cent of shoppers, workers and visitors were “concerned” over the problem.
Anyone begging in the centre will be arrested and referred to housing or addiction services. Acting Insp Steve Edwards said: “The idea is that there will be fewer Big Issue pitches, but we’re going to divide them them up into more people.
“We’ll get double or treble the number of people working, but it will be less visible.
“It’s about trying to reduce the perception that people are out there and begging.
“The emphasis of this crackdown is very much on helping homeless people, not punishing them.” Further action will be taken if help is refused and begging continues
Kim Gilmour, city centre manager, said: “Shoppers, workers and visitors in the city centre can sometimes feel harassed, intimidated or annoyed by beggars.
“Members of the public may think they are helping by giving money directly to homeless people, when in truth the best thing you can do is donate your money to recognised charities who look at long-term ways of solving the problem.”
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An even bigger problem is the number of charity canvassers in Dudley Street each day. Sometime you have two or three charities with three to five workers. Sometimes it feels like you are having to run a gauntlet. At least the Big Issue people are selling a product.
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The charity canvassers – they’re working for a marketing organisation. Any donations will be carved up between the charity, the marketing organisation, and tuppence for the seller.
Still, it’s cutting edge private sector wealth creation, innit? That’s what will get this country back on its feet…isn’t it?!
PS Happy to be a regular Big Issue buyer; it is a hand up, not a hand out.
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I don’t mind the Big Issue sellers, it is the actual beggers that bother me – the ones that sit on the floor and mumble, ‘any spare change sir’.
The beggers that infuriate me even more are those who use dogs to gain more sympathy. Two beggers last week in Queen Square nearly came to blows when their dogs attacked each other, not pleasant, as these people can’t look after themselves, let alone a poor animal that has no quality of life. Such people would also not care if the dogs attacked another person.
I walk daily from the train station to Lichfield Street and are begged for money at least 2 or 3 times during that short walk – espeicially outside the Art Gallery, where local beggers scrounge change to buy another can of Skol Super from the nearby off-license.
Ignore these drunken begging parasites and you get a mouthful of abuse – the police should remove them from the streets, its not like they can’t be seen, they concentrate on the most public of areas. I suppose the problem is then, what do we do with them – move the problem elsewhere?
A concerning problem that makes this City an univiting and intimidating place to be.
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its about time something was done about this problem but when will the council do something about the other people out there selling other products such as the charities on dudley street stopping everyone,the illegal musicians playing,the people selling catolgues,etc,etc.these are even bigger problems and like pete at no1 said at least the big issue people are selling a product.
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I have never had any problems with the Big Issue sellers, and never seen anyone else having any either. Even when people walk past and say they don’t have any change they always say “have a good day” or something similar,Mark the lad that stands opposite House Of Fraser is one of the nicest lads I know, as was Rob who used to stand by Clarkes. they are out in all weathers and I have never heard one of them complain.At least they are making an effort, which is more than can be said for some. Good on you lads and may you all have a happy Christmas.
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I hope they do the same to the so called “buskers2, the 3 that were by Boots a few weeks ago, had designer clothes and had look outs at top and bottom of Dudley road, by the way the singers were awful
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I remember Rob. Used to have a chat with him everytime I was in town.
Thoroughly nice bloke!
I dont see why the Big Issue sellers should be halved, they’re not begging as such. At least they’re trying to earn money, they could be on the dole or similar, damned if you do and damned if you dont
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most big issue sellers are ace and i buy it from them . others just get there money and go and by the strongest lager they can and drink it around the back of cleveland street its a disgrace.
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more sites are required as there are going to be a lot more homeless with this goverment.
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Perhaps the sellers should reinstate the “Working not Begging” vests; I don’t see them wearing them lately. I’d buy the mag but it’s a load of Commie tripe and the only column worth reading is the Mad World bit. I’d buy it if it was like the Metro paper & wasn’t free on the bus.
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Its true that the big issue sellers are earning, and its the “beggars” give everybody a bad name … but a thing to remember is that the police in wolves have a zero tolerance to them and will arrest anyone begging …. dont take the abuse… but if you do get guilty and want to “donate” to them buy them a hot drink ….Christmas is coming be safe watch your purse and dont give out … Take care CAT
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The guy by clarkes Show shop is a decent chap very polite
And plesant.
My mom always buys a big issue and gives him a cuppa.
All of them are of no comcern. And never troublesome.
I think they need to put their energy onto other real issues around town.
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In response to the concerns about the number of Big Issue pitches in Wolverhampton city centre, I would like to highlight that although the number of pitches has reduced, the hours on which sellers are able to work on them has extended.
I would also like to highlight that this is only one of the measures being taken to tackle the problem. The real emphasis is on arresting people who are begging in the city centre and pointing them in the direction of organisations and services that can help turn their lives around.
Although the emphasis of the crackdown is on helping homeless people, not punishing them, further action will be taken against those who persist in begging on city centre streets.
We will also be cracking down on individuals who have access to a home and claim to be sleeping rough in order to make money.
This action is in response to a City Centre survey which revealed that 75 percent of shoppers, workers and visitors to Wolverhampton said they were concerned about begging in the area.
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