Woman begging in Inverton Road

[languagelounger]

There's a woman begging in the street outside the newsagents in Inverton Road, Nunhead. She starts to cry when people come and go from the shop. She says she only has ?33.50 a week to live on plus ?17.50 in child benefit for three under fives plus a baby, her gas and electric have run out and they are all freezing and she hasn't eaten for three days. Her hands were freezing. She says she has an appointment at the CAB in Lewisham tomorrow to try to find help.

I gave her ?1. She said two other people had already given her ?1. She spotted a ?10 note in my purse and said "Look, there's a ?10 note, why won't you give me that?" She is standing outside the newsagents sobbing and saying "Why won't anyone help me".

Would she be better off seeking help in East Dulwich?

[AcedOut]

Did you ask her why she had children if she barely has enough money to live on for herself? Harsh and perhaps circumstances have changed for her since having kids, but begging surely isn't the solution (people using the guilt trip, especially mentioning children as an excuse, really gets my back up). I've come not to trust any, since so many make up ridiculous stories and expect people to fall for them. Professional beggers can make more money per day than someone on the min wage. It's just not right.

[MadWorld74]

She asked you for your ten pound note?...she'd be better off crying outside the housing office where she lives and not asking random people who are not responsible for her misery, for money.

[trinity]

Child benefit is about ?42 per week for 3 kids, so ?54 if she also has a baby.

Where were the children whilst she was begging?

Story doesn't ring true I think.

[MadWorld74]

Same thing with people who say they haven't got anywhere to sleep for the night, that the hostels are full. I've worked for a housing agency and yes sometimes there are no places but people don't get turned away for fun. They would always be told of where there was a bed for the night. Anyway, that's a whole different ca of worms. Sorry.

[espelli]

I have also seen her and she approached me asking for baby milk for a 6 week old baby. I have seen her several times since and she has always been crying. I also didn't think that her story rang true and asked her to take me to the baby and told her that I would then take them to buy milk formula. She became very evasive and ran off crying and asking why no one would help her. I don't believe there was a baby. At least I hope there wasn't.

[MadWorld74]

I once was approached by a guy at Waterloo Station who said he was starving and so was his dog....I am furious at how the dogs who have no bloody choice get dragged about, receiving abuse at the hands of it's owner when they've run out of money for booze and fags (seen it, so am not maiking it up).So I bought the guy a sandwich and a can of dog food for the dear dog. Went off and watched from a distance, as the bastard went back into the shop and took both the tin of chum and the sandwich back and got the cash for it instead! Pissed off.

Maybe next time someone sees this woman, they should call the police and they can check up to see that she is alright and we hope, there really is no baby starving somewhere.

[AllforNun]

some one needs to report it to the community officers, if the story is true ?

[Cassius]

Mmmm - hope she's got the right postcode for Lewisham CAB - they are becoming very fussy who they see these days.

[frump]

Having just read this thread, I think I will contact the PCSOs. This woman has benn begging for at least the past 3 years. I first encountered her in Brockley about 3 years ago when her request was exactly the same. I suggested she contact Social Services Emergency Duty Team as it was out of hours, but this was not received well.

My daughter was then approached by her a year ago. My daughter was in school uniform and shaken by what she perceived as very real distress in this woman.

About 3 months ago, she accosted my neighbour who agreed to go home and get some money. She then thought about this and decided against it. I was then asked to explain that there would be no money as the woman was waiting at the bottom of our road, spotted us and again asked for money. Several neighbours then began debating the situation; pros and cons with one very carefully explaining that they knew this woman and her story was completely fabricated. Another expressing outrage that there was no help for her ( an assumption on her part). As the debate raged, the woman walked away and no resolution as to what we should do was reached. I will contact the PCSOs and request that they make enquiries of the local services to at least ascertain that she has support around her. As a mental health professional I am not naive about the complexity of these situations and if she refuses support (which seems possible) and until she is a danger to herself or others, there is unlikely to be much in the way of help unless she wants it. If she breaks the law, the PCSOs can make their own decsions about how to deal with it.

[frump]

Just to add, I have now E Mailed the PCSOs and hope that they will read this thread and consider what, if anything they are able to do in such situations.

[Tony.London Suburbs]

Spot On Frump.

[SeanMacGabhann]

Does anybody not think that, rather than simply being a homeless nuisance that this woman is actually mentally ill and in need of social care rather than criminal charges?

[mockney piers]

Bring back hanging I say.

Ooh, talking of which, did anyone see Survivors last night, that was a bit brutal, typical OTT populist knee jerk reaction from the government though, I bet you she's labour!!

[Keef]

I think PSCOs are a good way to go, they're not going to throw her in a cell, they'll get her the help she needs if indeed she needs it. If she is just taking the p!ss them she'll know they're on to her.

[flapjackdavey]

MadWorld74 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I once was approached by a guy at Waterloo Station

> who said he was starving and so was his dog....I

> am furious at how the dogs who have no bloody

> choice get dragged about, receiving abuse at the

> hands of it's owner when they've run out of money

> for booze and fags (seen it, so am not maiking it

> up).So I bought the guy a sandwich and a can of

> dog food for the dear dog. Went off and watched

> from a distance, as the bastard went back into the

> shop and took both the tin of chum and the

> sandwich back and got the cash for it instead!

> Pissed off.

>

I have been fooled by people like this once or twice , never again .

[PeckhamRose]

Keef Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I think PSCOs are a good way to go, they're not

> going to throw her in a cell, they'll get her the

> help she needs if indeed she needs it. If she is

> just taking the p!ss them she'll know they're on

> to her.

Will they fine her for begging with all the money she got given?

[languagelounger]

Well that's useful to hear from other people about the history.

I know that women can be left desperate with children to feed (gambling gene in male line) but I also know that practised blaggers spot me coming. I used to go out with a bloke who had the same effect on sellers of Old Moore's Almanac and between us we couldn't get more than 6 feet down the high street without being accosted.

I don't think this woman is mentally ill though. If her choices for making a living are very limited I give her a gold star for not choosing prostitution. I have myself taken payment for my labour from companies that make huge profits out of causing social and environmental devastation, and no one is calling the rozzers on them. I don't regard myself as in any position to cast stones.

This person obviously has some dramatic talent as she apparently puts on (at least a partial) performance several times a day for her money. There are lots of BBC types and thespians living around here, couldn't someone give her a job on Casualty or something?

[Chick]

Please don?t set the PCSO?s on her. They are far too busy harassing motorists/homeless and their favourite, harassing children.

[matthew123]

I was chatting to a beggar once at Bank, he was sitting on the floor collecting coins, about the football. He then revealed he had a season ticket at Crystal Palace.

[lengthmad]

The poor sod