Giving money to 'professional beggars' in Greater Manchester makes it harder for police to help, a top cop has said. Superintendent Ian Jones, who is responsible for the city centre, has asked the public to donate to homelessness charities instead of giving beggars money.
It comes after the Manchester Evening News reported on a rise in people begging at traffic lights , particularly on the city centre inner ring road. But speaking at a press conference about homelessness and rough sleeping on Monday, Supt Jones said some are not genuinely homeless.
He said: "We do have a lot of beggars in the city centre who aren't homeless. Over the festive period, people are more willing to give money to people begging in the street. That makes it harder for us."
