Anti-begging Posters Cause A Storm Of Protest

A local council has caused a storm of protest on Twitter after adverts depicting homeless people as fraudsters and drug users.

Two bus-stop ads for Nottingham’s ‘#givesmart’ campaign, which launched last week, read: “Begging: Watch your money go to a fraud” and “Begging: Watch your money go up in smoke”. But the messages sparked fury from locals, who called for their removal and said Nottingham City Council bosses should be “ashamed” for authorising the ads.

The adverts aim to encourage people to donate money to homeless charities rather than individuals. A press release on the City Council’s website explains that it was started “because of concerns that money given directly to people who beg is used to feed harmful addictions”.

But the tone of the adverts has sparked anger, with some saying they stigmatised vulnerable people, while others called the message “utterly reprehensible.”

Laura Malarkey took to Twitter to voice her disgust, saying: “Shocking approach from @nottspolice @MyNottigham. The disgusting, ill-informed ads do not frame it as #givesmart, but as don’t give at all.”

While Chinny Honk tweeted: “@MyNottingham You badly need to re-address your #givesmart campaign. It will stigmatise many genuinely destitute, suffering people.”

Drew McGowan also tweeted, saying: “Nottingham City Council’s new #givesmart campaign is utterly reprehensible – shamelessly demonises the homeless.”

City Council leader, Jon Collins, said: “Community Protection and the police are continually taking action against a small number of persistent beggars who can sometimes be aggressive. Many of these individuals appear to be ‘rough sleeping’ when they have already been provided with accommodation and use the money to feed their lifestyle.

“These professional beggars can make up to £800 a day and have in the past waved notes in front of officers.”