In February Hammersmith and Fulham Council approved a new order tackling antisocial behaviour and begging across the borough
Sam Singh said he had cases where beggars would approach customers in his shop
Mike Jordan took but a second to respond. “I think it would be a good idea,” he said. “Especially if it’s a group together. Because they can cause a bit of trouble.”
Mr Jordan, who lives a short distance from Shepherd’s Bush, was commenting on a recent initiative implemented by Hammersmith and Fulham Council to tackle antisocial behaviour (ASB) across the borough, specifically including a crackdown on organised begging.
In February the West London local authority approved a new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) targeted at groups including professional beggars and individuals concealing their identity with face coverings.
PSPOs enable the council and police to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) of £100 to people caught engaging in prohibited behaviour, reduced to £60 if paid within 10 days.
In a paper detailing the decision, which was officially approved by Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion and Community Safety, Cllr Rebecca Harvey, officers wrote the order will “reduce incidents of ASB that cause harassment, alarm and distress”.
The actions to be targeted are also outlined, namely: professional and aggressive and/or persistent begging, gathering in groups of two or more “for the purposes of engaging in antisocial behaviour”, and wearing a face mask to conceal an identity.
The last restriction will not be enforced against anyone wearing a covering due to their religion, faith or cultural beliefs, nor those with a health reason or when it is required by, as it was during Covid.
One hotspot known to attract ASB is Shepherd’s Bush, in particular the area around the green.
Mike Jordan was among those to back the council’s PSPO(Image: LDRS)
Speaking to a number of businesses along Uxbridge Road earlier this week it appeared the council’s efforts to crack down on aggressive or group begging was largely welcomed.
Tahir Khan, working in a tech shop facing the green, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “The beggars in front of Shepherd’s Bush Market, sometimes sitting, sometimes on the pavement. They are covering the whole pavement so it’s hard to pass. Obviously it’s a busy area.”
Mr Khan said further efforts from the council would be “amazing”, adding there is a particular concern when customers are followed into the shop.
This latter point was raised by several local workers. Sam Singh, who runs Bush Discount Store, said: “Whenever the customer buys something they know they have got the money, they join with them. Whenever we sell a large article they know the customer has the money, they come and follow them, even inside the shop.”
Ali Kazmi, a Manager at Retail 24, said there are occasions when customers leave without buying anything due to someone approaching them in the shop.
“It can sometimes be annoying,” he said. “If a customer is standing inside the shop and the beggar is outside, the beggar comes inside.”
Several people, including Mr Kazmi and Mr Singh, said they would like to see evidence of more enforcement on the streets.
Mohammad Sheikh, who runs La Crema restaurant, however said begging was not a major issue for his business, and that he did not typically see large groups.
He added he is sceptical about how much the local Law Enforcement Team (LET) would be able to do to tackle the issue if it does arise.
Mr Jordan, who was walking along Uxbridge Road towards Shepherd’s Bush Market Station, backed the PSPO.
“I do see some people looking for money,” he said. “Some of them you can’t depend on. One of them walked after me the other evening.”
“You can’t trust them, like,” he added.
The council’s own consultation held last year into the PSPO drew widespread support. From 644 responses the vast majority backed the proposals in the draft. The most support was shown for the proposal to ban aggressive and/or persistent begging, with 87.8 per cent agreeing with its introduction.
The restriction on professional begging was backed by 87.5 per cent of respondents, with all of the proposals getting north of 80 per cent.
Less support was received from a bespoke survey for young people, to which 23 individuals answered. The proposal for professional begging in particular had few respondents from the younger group in-favour, with just 30 per cent backing its introduction.
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