'Don't give money to Shrewsbury street beggars' plea

Team Shrewsbury, the partnership behind a new "alternative giving scheme", says some of those begging on the streets actually have homes and are using the cash, up to £60 to £70 a day, to buy drugs.

The partnership will be arranging for four metal donation boxes to be placed at Pride Hill, The Square, Shrewsbury railway station and Frankwell footbridge.

The money collected will be given to Shrewsbury charity The Ark – which provides support for the vulnerable and homeless – the Rough Sleepers Task Force Group and Shrewsbury Street Pastors.

Sergeant Richard Coles, of West Mercia Police, said the scheme would ensure money gets to the people who need it.

He also said that members of the public who currently give to beggars would be "mortified" to find out that in some cases the money had been spent on heroin.

He said: "Myself and my team spend a lot of time patrolling the streets and we see individuals, some of which are genuinely rough sleepers, some are not genuine rough sleepers in that they have a house to go to at the end of the day, some we know are in need and some are frankly less in need.

"The kindness of the people of Shrewsbury to want to give to to these individuals is tremendous and we are fortunate to live in a town where so many people want to give.

"It is just that the best way of giving is to give to something which can provide the wrap-around care to help get them off the streets."

He added: "By giving, people can inadvertently be keeping them on the streets.

"If you give someone £10, that £10 could be spent on heroin and you would not just go and give someone a bag of heroin."

Inspector Edward Hancox said: "What many people don't know is that many rough sleepers are not actually homeless and beg to feed a drug or alcohol habit.

"My officers often see rough sleepers with amounts of food and drink, but continuing to ask for money."

Karen Higgins, trustee at Shrewsbury Ark, said the scheme would allow people to contribute and not feel bad about not giving to people on the street.

She said: "It makes people feel better at that precise second in time to help someone – and this is giving permission to say it is okay not to put it into that hat or that guitar on the street, it is okay to walk past and put it in these boxes and it is going to get to the right place."

Ark chairman Howard Hutchings said: "The funds can be used to target where there is real need, and also ensure that it is used in the most appropriate way."