WE HAVE in Ashley Road had a lot of problems over a lot of years with rough sleepers and day-time drinkers.


Many residents and staff in shops are then pleased that neighbourhood police, and local authority staff, have put in a lot of time recently moving on drinkers and closing this down.


It is then incredible but on the matter of “begging” and “beggars” we have to go back to legislation nearly 200 years ago – the 1824 Vagrancy Act.


It really is astonishing. This is legislation put in place to deal with the many thousands of wounded and destitute casualties, from the Napoleonic wars, on the streets of England.


Look into the legislation and it really is a snapshot into the brutality of British history.


These men, having served their country and lost limbs, are outlawed from the streets of England.


To give a flavour of the language: “Rogues and Vagabonds”: “wandering abroad, and endeavouring by the exposure of wounds or deformities to obtain or gather alms; offender to go to the house of correction for three months.”


And this is what we are using in 2021 to deal with “begging”.


A matter of someone “placing himself or herself in any public place to beg or gather alms”.


You would think in 200 years we might be doing a bit better dealing with the massive social problems that lead anyone to end on the streets.


But that apart I am sure many are very grateful to our police taking on this very difficult work.


On one hand dealing with those who are intoxicated (off their heads) and can be very aggressive, on the other those who end up on the streets for no more reason than being destitute and genuinely homeless.


JEFF WILLIAMS
Jubilee Road, Poole